Kerala - Kochi

Government to check unauthorised land deals

Staff Reporter

KOCHI: Steps will be taken to check unauthorised land deals in the State, especially in Ernakulam district, said Minister for Registration and Fisheries S. Sarma here on Saturday.

The Minister, who was participating in the District Development Committee meeting at the district panchayat office, said steps had been taken to implement clauses in the Union Registration Act, 2004 in the State.

District Collector A.P.M. Mohammed Hanish said the district administration had received complaints of extensive land filling from Angamaly and Koovapadi areas. Agricultural and revenue officials were asked to track reports regarding deals related to paddy fields.

M.M. Monayi and Jose Thettayil, MLAs, demanded making registered power of attorney compulsory for land deals. The Government recently released Rs. 1.7 crore for flood-relief works in the district. Efforts would be made to get the due amount, coming to around Rs. 7 crore, released.

The District Collector instructed effective use of the money released under a total sanitation scheme in all blocks. The foundation stone for the solid-waste management plant at Brahmapuram would be laid in November.

He asked for preparation of estimates at the earliest for maintenance works on small-scale irrigation projects.

Kerala Water Authority officials told the meeting that domestic connections had been given within Paravoor municipality area and neighbouring panchayat limits under the Chowara Water Supply Augmentation Scheme. The meeting was also told that the Kerala State Electricity Board gave OYC connections for those who had applied till September 18. The Collector asked to remove the electric posts obstructing traffic on roads at Elamakkara and repair the road dug up for laying pipes at Palarivattom.

Outpatient consultation up to 4 p.m., started for checking epidemics, would continue in all Government hospitals in the district. Allowing more buses on the Malyankara bridge would be considered. The Public Works Department officials said assistance had been sought from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, for repairing the Sree Sankara bridge at Kalady. Mr. Monayi and Saju Paul, MLA, demanded opening of the main canal of the Periyar Valley Project by mid-November.

(The Hindu, Sunday, October 29, 2006)