Idukki (Keralam) | Keralam Chief Minister V D Satheesan on Friday warned that land encroachment would not be tolerated, while assuring the government's support to migrant farmers in resolving their land-related difficulties.
Addressing a meeting of people's representatives and officials at the Collectorate to discuss land-related issues in this hill district, Satheesan said resolving the district's problems was among the government's top priorities.
"Land encroachers and settlers will be viewed separately. Encroachment will not be allowed under any circumstances. The government will stand with settler farmers to resolve their difficulties," he said.
The chief minister said steps would be taken to expedite patta (land title) distribution and nearly 5,000 pattas, for which there were no hurdles, would be distributed soon.
He also said he would personally intervene to ensure favourable decisions on the Supreme Court and High Court verdicts that were posing hurdles to patta distribution.
Satheesan said steps would also be taken to prevent human-wildlife conflicts.
Around 60 per cent of the issues concerning Idukki district had already been resolved, he said, adding that only matters that could be settled relatively easily remained.
He directed officials to resolve the pending issues within a time-bound framework.
More staff and facilities, including vehicles, would be provided to speed up survey procedures in the district, the CM said.
He also announced that the government would bring in legislative amendments to revive plantations that have remained unused.
