Intelligence alert on migrants bid to possess land in Idukki

The state Intelligence wing has said that a large number of people from Tamil Nadu in the guise of landless natives are attempting to receive government land in Munnar, Chinnar and Vattavada areas of Idukki district. The police headquarters and the Revenue Department have been alerted about this.

 The Revenue officials in the district have been asked to be cautious before distributing land to landless people in these areas. The Intelligence officials said that there are several Tamil speaking people working in tea estates in these areas who have no land and stay in estate lanes.

The government had come out with a project titled ‘Zero Land Project’ to distribute land to landless people in these areas a few years ago. “Several people from Tamil Nadu who have land, voters ID and ration cards at their native places also submitted applications to allot land to them. Since these people have land and voters ID in Tamil Nadu they are not eligible to get the land meant for the landless people.

“There are several estate workers in Munnar, Chinnar and Vattavada areas who daily reach here from Tamil Nadu. These people have applied for the land with the Idukki district administration,” an Intelligence official said.

 The Revenue Department has alerted district administration to scrutinise the applications for land received from Kanan Devan Hills (KDH) village during the last one year. But the officials in the district administration said that it would be hard for them to identify the people who have no land in Tamil Nadu.

 Idukki District Collector T Bhaskaran said that the district administration has cancelled the application of many people from Tamil Nadu following the information from the Revenue Department.

 “8,000 applications were received from KDH villages in last one year under the ‘Zero Land Project’. Following the alert we have to cancel all applications. Our officials now will reach the houses of all applicants and will find out those who have no land in Tamil Nadu.

“The land will be distributed only after completing this assessment measure. Since KDH villages are spread over large area, it will take more time and land distribution will be delayed,” Bhaskaran said.