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The Kerala Land Assignment (Amendment) Bill of 2023, introduced during the current legislative session, was unanimously approved on the final day of the session. This amendment introduces a new section, known as section 4a, to the existing act, granting the government the authority to regularize all illegal constructions and land misuse. The forthcoming rules will elaborate on which specific illegalities will be subject to regularization and outline the procedures for achieving compliance. Until now, the act had only allowed assignees of patta land to utilize it for agriculture, house construction, and beneficial enjoyment.
However, a majority of the assigned lands in Idukki district, particularly in Devikulam taluk, have been utilized for purposes far beyond these three categories. As a result, the govThe Kerala assembly has passed amendments to the Kerala Land Assignment Act of 1960, paving the way for the regularization of numerous illegal commercial constructions in the ecologically sensitive region of Munnar. The move is in response to the discovery of 226 illegal constructions in eight villages in Munnar, which have been reported to the high court. The Kerala Land Assignment (Amendment) Bill of 2023 introduces a new section, granting the government authority to regularize illegal constructions and land misuse. While it aims to address the issue of unchecked illegal constructions, the decision has generated both support and controversy within Kerala, as it marks a significant shift in land-use policies in the region.ernment, for various political reasons, has opted to amend the act to facilitate the regularization of these illegal constructions in the Munnar area. This legislative move has the potential to legitimize several high-profile violations currently under the scrutiny of the high court. This includes the controversial construction of a CPM (Communist Party of India-Marxist) office in Santhanpara, which is now on track for regularization.
While construction continues in Santhanpara, work on CPM party offices in Bison Valley and Udumbanchola has already been completed, despite being undertaken in clear violation of the existing rules.
Another notable violation involving patta land pertains to CPM leader M M Mani, potentially drawing contempt of court action. The construction of a zipline as part of adventure tourism at Iruttukanam junction in Vellathooval village, Devikulam taluk, has been carried out under the name of Sarojini Lambodaran, the wife of Mani's brother. This construction blatantly ignored ordersissued by revenue officials and violated a high court order dating back to January 21, 2010, which applied to eight villages in the Munnar region. This construction, too, is now slated for regularization.
While these are a few prominent instances that have caught the public's attention, authorities have identified numerous other illegal constructions through a thorough examination by the district administration in these eight villages. This comprehensive scrutiny revealed a total of 226 illegal constructions, underscoring the scale of the issue.
The decision to amend the Land Assignment Act and its accompanying rules was made during a meeting chaired by the chief minister on January 10 of this year. The aim was to address the long-standing land issues in Idukki, responding to the demands of various political parties, irrespective of their affiliation with the ruling front or the opposition.
In essence, the recent legislative amendments mark a significant shift in land-use policies, particularly in the ecologically sensitive Munnar region. The move aims to strike a balance between addressing the issue of rampant illegal constructions and regularizing certain pre-existing structures, a decision that has generated both support and controversy within the state of Kerala. As the government moves forward with framing the rules for implementation, the implications of these changes will undoubtedly continue to be a subject of debate and scrutiny.
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