Kerala: Audit of the Comptroller and Auditor General reveals encroachments

Thiruvananthapuram: The Audit of the Comptroller and Auditor General has detected massive encroachment of government lands, and illegal conversion of agriculture and wetlands. Audit randomly checked 148 government plots and sites involving 1,030.78 hectares in various survey numbers in 24 taluk offices. The CAG report, tabled in the Assembly on Monday, said that 72.61 hectares of government land (worth Rs 65.45 crore as per fair value) was encroached upon with impunity. The land grab was carried out by various trusts, religious bodies, educational institutions, and even government bodies like DTPC, KSEB and Education Department. The common practice is for these bodies and trusts to take over the land lying adjacent to the real estate officially allotted to them.

Audit observed that non-verification of government land resulted in non-detection of encroachment. “On this being pointed out the additional tahsildars stated that report would be sought from the village officers concerned and action would be taken,” the report said. Though a procedure was prescribed in the Department for the periodical verification of Government land, the report said that it was not carried out by the officials for timely detection and eviction of encroachments. “The RDOs/collectors were not monitoring the eviction of encroachments effectively,” it added.

The CAG Report observed that absence of periodical verification has resulted in non-reporting of the conversion of wetlands and agricultural lands. The Agricultural Officer is responsible for the lapse. As per Section 23 of the Kerala Conservation of Paddy Land and Wet Land Act, 2008, any person who, in violation of the provisions of the Act converts or reclaims any paddy land or wet land shall on conviction, be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years but shall not be less than six months and with fine which may extend to 'one lakh but shall not be less than Rs 50,000.