376 hectares of revenue land encroached by private parties across Kerala: minister

Thiruvananthapuram: As many as 376 hectares of revenue land had been encroached by private parties across Kerala, state Revenue Minister E Chandrasekharan informed the Assembly today.

The minister, in a written reply, said the largest encroachment was reported in high range Idukki district – 110 hectares.

Of this, the largest encroachment was found in Kannan Devan Hills (KDH) Village in that district, he said.

According to the minister, one Zachariah hailing from Vagamon village located in Kottayam-Idukki border and Cyril P Jacob of Choice Village, Tripunitura near Kochi lead the list of encroachers.

Idukki hit headlines recently after revenue officials embarked on anti-eviction drive in tourist hill station of Munnar and some other pockets in the district.

The drive, under the aegis of Devikulam sub-collector Sreeram Venkitaram, had raised many an eyebrow even in the ruling CPI(M)-led LDF after a 30 ft metal cross was brought down from an alleged encroached land.

Chandrasekharan said the government had been taking stringent measures to recover the encroached lands under the Kerala Land Conservancy Act, 1957 and Kerala Land Conservancy (Amendment) Act, 2009.

Land protection force formed for preventing encroachments, was also active in the district, the minister added.