Date:02/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/02/stories/2008100250770100.htm

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VS reaffirms commitment

Staff Reporter

Redistribution of resumed land in Munnar within 3 months

Achuthanandan says the drive is against the rich.

MUNNAR: Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan on Wednesday said that the redistribution of land resumed from encroachers in Munnar would be completed within three months.

Wrapping up his hectic, two-day tour of the hotspots in Munnar, Mr. Achuthanandan came down heavily on “those who spread the canard that colony-dwellers will be displaced in the anti-encroachment drive here.”

The Chief Minister allayed fears in the minds of small holders and said the drive was against the rich who had usurped government land that legitimately belonged to the landless.

“The land so far reclaimed in the anti-encroachment drive comes to more than 12,000 acres,” he said and added that this would be distributed among landless plantation workers, marginal farmers, farm workers, Adivasis and the landless poor. “Not a single person who today own four or five cents will be touched,” he said.

A meeting of the Cabinet sub-committee on Munnar evictions scheduled here on October 9 will announce crucial decisions, he said.

Mr. Achuthanandan sent a clear message to those who criticised him over the slackening of the pace of the anti-encroachment drive here by bolstering the Special Task Force, co-opting Vinson M. Paul, Inspector-General of Police (Central Zone).

His appointment as a member of the team comes in the wake of the failure of the authorities to stop many of the ongoing constructions in disputed areas in spite of serving of stop memos.

He also said that the duties of K.M. Ramanandan, head of the Special Task Force, would be rearranged. Mr. Achuthanandan said the Adivasis who had been given land at Aanayirankal in Chinnakanal would be relocated to better places as they were facing unprecedented problems in the present spot, which forms part of an elephant corridor.

Reacting to questions on the absence of his party colleagues from his programmes and their critical attitude towards his visit, Mr. Achuthanandan said: “I do not understand why they speak like that. Such an attitude will only work to the benefit of the resort owners. Such issues will be discussed within the party.”