KOCHI: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday promised that the state government will find a permanent solution to the land dispute at Munambam, where the Waqf Board has claimed rights over property.
The chief minister gave the promise at a meeting with the representatives of the Munambam Land Protection Committee led by Kottapuram Bishop Ambrose Puthenveettil, when they called on him at the Ernakulam Guest House. The Munambam Land Protection Committee has been holding a relay hunger strike for the past one month to draw the government’s attention to the problems faced by the residents of the coastal village, near Kochi, in the wake of the Waqf Board claims.
“We apprised the CM of the situation in Munambam. During the discussions, the CM told us not to be worried and that a permanent solution would be arrived at after the by-elections,” Kottapuram Diocese Vicar General Rockey Roby Kalathil told TNIE.
The government has decided to hold a ministerial-level meeting on November 22 to discuss and find a solution to the Munambam issue.
The meeting was earlier scheduled for November 16, but the government was forced to postpone it after the Palakkad by-election was rescheduled to November 20.
The Kottappuram bishop said the chief minister asked them to wait until the end of the by-elections, promising that the high-level meeting would find a solution.
Earlier, addressing reporters, Industries Minister P Rajeeve said the high-level meeting was postponed as such crucial decisions cannot be taken as the election code of conduct is in place.
“Anyway, the government has clarified that not one person will be displaced from Munambam. The state government is trying to find a permanent solution to the problem,” the minister said.
Besides Rajeeve, Vypeen MLA K N Unnikrishnan too attended the meeting with the chief minister. The committee also submitted a petition to the chief minister. Bishop Ambrose said the chief minister’s words give hope. “I hope the CM intervenes to wipe the tears of the residents,” he added.