Kerala - Kochi

Corporation's help sought for evicting tenants

Staff Reporter

For widening work of Sahodaran Ayyappan Road

KOCHI: The district administration has decided to approach the Kochi Corporation regarding the eviction of the remaining tenants for the widening work of Sahodaran Ayyappan Road.

District Collector A.P.M. Mohammed Hanish said that he would send a formal communication to the Mayor and the Corporation Secretary on Wednesday requesting that the Corporation should intervene in the issue related to the eviction of the remaining tenants.

Tenants are to be evicted at 58 points along Sahodaran Ayyappan Road between Pallimukku and Kadavanthra. Many of them are small shop owners. Three have surrendered their land voluntarily.

The decision of providing compensation to 14 owners had already been arrived at. But, the disagreement regarding the surrendering of land at the remaining 41 points is still continuing.

Many of the holders are small shop owners and, among them, many are tenants who refuse to vacate the land.

The district administration is of the opinion that the Corporation can intervene in the issue by holding talks with the tenants and try to find out whether paying compensation or other means of rehabilitation be arranged.

The Collector said that though the funds for the project was already in place, the physical possession of the land could not be transferred so far. Even the acquisition procedures had been completed.

However, the administration wanted the situation to be handled in an amicable manner, without resorting to use of force. (The Hindu - May 17, 2006)