SIT to probe land encroachments in Idukki district, including in Wagamon
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) will probe government land encroachments in Wagamon, as well as across the Idukki district. The Revenue department has expanded the
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) will probe government land encroachments in Wagamon, as well as across the Idukki district. The Revenue department has expanded the SIT — originally appointed by the LDF government following directions from the High Court — by adding key officials to investigate large-scale encroachments on public land. According to officials, the team is headed by K. Sethuraman, Director of the Police Training College, and H. Dineshan, State Land Revenue Commissioner. 15 officials were added to the SIT after recent encroachment incidents were uncovered.
Key officials inducted into the team include Niju Kurian, Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO), Kottayam; Binu Joseph, Deputy Collector, Idukki; Raghuram G., District Law Officer, Idukki; and Binu S.S., Deputy Director of Revenue and Land Records, Idukki. According to officials, the SIT will hold an online meeting on Wednesday to review recent government land encroachments on the Vagamon hills. “Following the meeting, the SIT will visit Wagamon to assess the exact extent of the encroachments. The team will then inspect title deeds and land records for all properties in the area before submitting a detailed report to the government,” a revenue official said.
Revenue staff involved Officials noted that encroachments and the issuance of illegal title deeds in Wagamon occurred with the active involvement of the Revenue department staff. “Since the perpetrators are familiar with revenue laws, the SIT requires a thorough inspection of all title deeds in the region to identify offenders,” the official added. The team’s investigation will cover major encroachment hotspots in Wagamon, Munnar, Chinnakkanal, and Parunthumpara. Last year, following an SIT report, the Revenue department reclaimed acres of government land and demolished a large cross erected on encroached land in Parunthumpara to prevent eviction.
Meanwhile, a revenue team led by Peerumade Land Records Tehsildar R. Hareendranath visited the Wagamon hills on Tuesday to inspect illegal construction and land-clearing activities reported in the meadow areas. Officials noted that while land tax was paid for the property until recently, a thorough audit of the original title deed is under way to establish the exact legal status of the land.
The BriefWire