Kerala - Kochi

Distribution of title deeds for evictees likely on January 15

KOCHI: The district administration has set January 15 as a tentative date for distribution of title deeds of land for rehabilitation of the families evicted for the road and rail connectivity of the proposed Vallarpadam International Container Transhipment Terminal.

A meeting of all the stakeholders has been convened on January 8 to chalk out the finer points of the title deed distribution and the subsequent rehabilitation. Efforts are on to bring Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan for the title deed distribution function, Revenue Department sources said.

Meanwhile, the district administration has secured an extension of four months from the court to complete the rehabilitation process. The original deadline was January 15. However, revenue officials said that they might not require all four months. “We sought the extension to prepare approach roads to access the rehabilitation plots. This will be done within a month,” they said.

Land was acquired from about 180 families spread over four villages of Kadamakkudy, Mulavukad, Cheranalloor and Eloor for the rail and road connectivity.

Rehabilitation plots had been readied at Moolamppilly, Vaduthala and Thuthiyur, revenue officials said. Dredging works in Kothad would be completed in a week while that in Mulavukad would take another 10 days, they said.

However, Francis Kalathunkal, general convener of the coordination committee of those displaced for development projects, alleged that works on the rehabilitation land was progressing at a snail’s pace.

According to him, land filling in Mulavukad, where 14 plots had to be readied, was yet to be started. The collapse of a retention wall at the rehabilitation plot at Kadamakkudy a couple of days back had posed a fresh problem, he said.

“Besides, basic amenities of road, electricity and water seem far off,” said Mr. Kalathunkal.

Denying this, revenue officials said that estimates have been drawn up for ensuring basic utility services. Tenders would be invited and work would be assigned soon, they said.

Mr. Kalathunkal said that there was still a lack of clarity as to whether the regulations in the Coastal Regulation Zone Act are applicable for the construction of residential structures. If so, the rehabilitation process along coastal regions would face more roadblocks.

He said that since the provision of rent that the evicted families were entitled to expire on December 6, any delay would further jeopardise the situation of families yet to be rehabilitated.

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