Thiruvananthapuram: The State government on Wednesday decided to regularise unauthorised constructions in Idukki district carried out in violation of provisions of title deed.
The Cabinet decided to regularise unauthorised buildings below 1,500 sq ft, located within 15 cents of pattayam land. Only those buildings which have been constructed for commercial purpose or small businesses in violation of provisions of Land Assignment Rules 1964, would be considered for regularisation.
However, the regularisation will be subject to submission of report from the Reve-nue Division Officer and revenue officials concerned stating that the owner does not have land or building in any other part of the state.
The government will take over buildings which are over 1,500 sq ft and located in more than 15 cents of land. These structures will be given out on lease.
After the Cabinet meeting, revenue minister E. Chandras-hekharan said at the moment the government was considering only land which has been given title deed.
Only those cases will be taken up where the provisions of the pattayam were violated for commercial purpose or small businesses. As per the 1964 Land Assignment Rules the land is given only for agriculture or construction of house. In the event of construction of structure for commercial or business purposes, the Act will be considered a violation.
“There are people who violated the provisions and construct buildings for the above reasons. If there building is less than 1,500 sq ft and within 15 cents patayam land, they will be considered for regularisation. Such pattayams will not be cancelled,” Chandrashkeharan said.
The buildings above 1,500 sq ft and located on more than 15 cents of land, would be taken over by the government and leased out . Only small scale businesses which are means of livelihood are being considered for relaxation and the rest would be considered as encroachment. All unauthorised encroachments would be taken over by the government.
When asked whether the relaxation would be granted to educational institutions falling in the same category, the revenue minister said; “I have made it clear that only commercial ventures are being taken into consideration and that too based on the RDO report. However, the unauthorised structures would not be demolished but given out on lease,” the minister said.
The Cabinet took the decision in the wake of widespread complaints regarding problems being faced by people in Munnar especially those running small time shops.
