Kerala enforces strict measures against illegal land encroachments

The Kerala government is taking strong action against illegal land encroachments in Idukki district. Revenue Minister K Rajan said the government aims to find a lasting solution without harming ordinary settlers. He stressed that illegal encroachments disguised as settlements will not be tolerated. During a recent assembly session, Rajan noted there have been reports of large-scale encroachments in Idukki. In response, the government has started steps to remove these illegal structures. This includes suspending unauthorized title deeds and demolishing illegal buildings. Rajan mentioned the government has distributed 50,000 title deeds to settlers in the last eight years. He stated that they want to help genuine settlers but will not allow any illegal activities. The majority of the encroachments involved forged land documents, and immediate reports have been requested from the Idukki district collector. A recent court ruling has temporarily halted the distribution of more title deeds in Idukki. The government has filed a counter affidavit regarding this issue. Opposition members, including Mathew Kuzhalnadan and V D Satheesan, have criticized the government, claiming it has not effectively managed encroachers profiting from selling government land with fake documents. Following this, the opposition staged a walkout after their motion was rejected.