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Facing furore, Kerala withdraws land rule

Trivandrum - Government withdraws notification amending a land assignment rule seeking to regularise occupation of government land in the hilly tracts of the state.

Amid fierce criticism, Kerala's Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) government withdrew within 24 hours a notification amending a land assignment rule seeking to regularize occupation of government land in the hilly tracts of the state.
Revenue Minister Adoor Prakash told reporters on Tuesday that he had taken the decision in consultation with Chief Minister Ommen Chandy after finding substance in the criticism from within the ruling front and opposition.
The amendment in the Kerala Land Assignment Rules, 1964 provided for regularizing all encroachments prior to June 1, 2005. The original rule allowed such regularisation only in the case of revenue land held in possession prior to 1971 and forest land prior to 1977.
The previous law prescribed an upper ceiling of one acre and an annual income of Rs.30, 000 for such regularization. However, the current amendment raised the ceiling to four acres and income to Rs100,000. A section of the ruling Congress and the opposition had viewed this as a move to help the land sharks, who have encroached upon huge tracts of government land in the hilly areas of tourism hotspots like Idukki and Wayanad.
Leader of the opposition V S Achuthanandan had demanded its immediate withdrawal. Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president V M Sudheeran had sought an explanation from the minister on Monday itself. KPCC vice president V D Satheeshan and legislator T N Prathapan, who espouses the green cause, joined issue with the government and called for a review of the amendment. They said that it would further encourage the encroachers.
The minister said that the amendments were made on the demand of various sections of the society, including legislators and community organisations.