Achuthanandan demands against encroachments

CPI(M) leader V S Achuthanandan today asked the Kerala government to take stern action against those who were indulged in encroachments in Munnar in Idukki district.
The encroachers should be evacuated, he said in a statement here.
Apparently referring to the reported remarks by S Rajendran, MLA (CPI-M), against officials who take action against encroachers, Achuthanandan said it was LDF government's duty to control the 'land mafia'.
Officials who try to evacuate encroacher would have the support of the government and people, Achuthanandan, who had taken strong measures to retrieve public lands in Munnar when he was the Chief Minister, said.

Achuthanandan also criticised Opposition leader in the Kerala Assembly Ramesh Chennithala for his "anti-encroachment" stand and asked whether an inch of encroached land had been recovered during the previous Congress led UDF government's period.
"Congressmen were behind most of encroachments in that region", Achuthanandan alleged.

He said that LDF government did not view the settlers and encroachers on similar lines. People who live in that region for decades were not encroacher's, he said.
He said encroachment of public land was not limited to Munnar alone. Water bodies, rivers and even sea sides were also encroached upon. It was a serious matter that they were able to regularise this through court orders, he said.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had stated yesterday that the government would bring restrictions for building tourist resorts in Munnar and would take stringent action against encroachments.
Vijayan had also rejected allegation against Rajendran that the MLA had threatened revenue officers.