Thiruvananthapuram: The state government on Thursday decided to reconsider the boundary of the Kurinji garden sanctuary in Munnar following the protests by different regional political groups as habitated areas also fell inside the demarcated sanctuary. A high-level meeting presided over by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan also decided to send a ministerial team to Munnar to find solutions to the land issues, including the allegations of encroachments against Idukki MP Joice George at Kottakamboor.
The team would comprise revenue minister E. Chandrasekharan, forest minister K. Raju and electricity minister M.M. Mani. The team is being sent following the criticism raised at the meeting against the forest department’s recommendation to the law department to bring out an ordinance on the Kurinju gardens without conducting a proper study. The team would hold talks with the political groups and the people living in the controversial lands for the last many years.
Earlier, Devikulam sub-collector V.R. Prem Kumar had cancelled the title deeds of the lands owned by Mr Joice George and his relatives at Kottakamboor leading to protest by the local CPM. A hartal was also observed against the cancellation of the title deeds based on the finding that the land was acquired by the MP’s father allegedly by using the natives of Tamil Nadu as his benamies. Mr Joice George has contended that he inherited the land and that he has been paying tax for many years. The meeting was also attended by Idukki collector G.R. Gokula and Devikulam sub-collector.
