Kochi: Describing encroachments in the
tourist spot of Munnar in Kerala as "rape of Mother Nature",
the High Court today directed the state government to ensure
no constructions are allowed without issuance of an NOC from
Revenue department and permits from officials in the town.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice S R Bannurmath
and Justice Thothathil B Radhakrishnan directed that action be
taken against encroachments in river perumboke (government
land) and restrained construction on shores of rivers and
river beds.
It also directed the Revenue and Forest departments to
place Action Taken Reports after three weeks on illegal
construction and encroachments.
It asked the Revenue, Police and Forest departments to
ensure that mining of sand, earth or laterite from the town
does not take place for two months.
The directions were issued on a petition by NGO "One
life, one Earth", complaining illegal encroachments and
constructions in Munnar, along with three reports by top
government officers, pointing to indiscriminate encroachment
and constructions.
The bench said, "The encroachments are rape of mother
nature and the government should ensure that the nature is
preserved".
The bench also directed government to place on record the
action taken against erring officials, as also preventive
action.
"Such officers should not be kept in office and the
action taken against corrupt officials should be informed to
the court," it said.
Additional Advocate General Renjith Thampan submitted
that the government was taking action against bogus 'Pattas'
(title deeds). About 331 pattas were found bogus and 67 cases
booked.
Yesterday, the court had directed the Idduki Collector to
file a report on steps taken to evict encroachers.
-PTI
First Published: Thursday, January 21, 2010, 23:03