Kottayam: The CPI (M)-led Karshaka Sanghom has ended its satyagraha started on March 7 in Munnar on an assurance from Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan that the "issue would be solved." They were demanding the removal of Devikulam sub-collector Sreeram Venkatraman as he denied them no objection certificates for construction citing legal hurdles. Devikulam MLA S. Rajendran, accused of holding four cents of land in Ikka Nagar near Munnar town, said he was stalling construction in the district. The sub-collector also questioned his securing title deeds for the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) land.
Many others also possess KSEB land for two or three generations, which cannot be assigned to anyone, with the consent of the government. This legal hurdle is acting as a hindrance in the assignment. Kanan Devan Hills Plantations Limited (KDHP) owns a substantial portion of land, resumed by the government under the KDH Act 1971. Possession by migrant workers is not enough ground for assigning under this Act, which requires a series of procedures including a statewide notification.
Meanwhile, Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala demanded that the encroachers and migrants should not be perceived equally. "There have been widespread encroachments, and the directions of the Supreme Court has widely violated, including by the Devikulam MLA who is residing on encroached land," he said. "How the land owned by the KSEB as per the order of the Devikulam court went into his possession?"
He alleged that the CPI (M) leaders had also possessed KDHP land and they were fooling people with the satyagraha as they are upset after the court sought a report from the sub-collector on the land embezzlement of a person named Albin. He accused Mr Vijayan of supporting Mr Rajendran without checking real facts. Asserting that the officer was abiding by the law, he said the UDF would start a strike against their encroachments on April 3.
