Resurvey of land in the Kadakampally area, mired in the land grab case associated with Chief Minister Oommen Chandy’s former gunman Salim Raj, will be completed in three weeks’ time.
Also, a decision on collection of property tax from residents who had been remitting the same till last year and where there is no stay order from the courts or government, will be taken by April 25.
An agreement to this effect was reached at a meeting of affected people convened by District Collector Biju Prabhakar on Saturday. Local MLA M A Wahid, V Sivankutty MLA, former minister and CPM leader M Vijayakumar were present on the occasion.
“Status quo will be maintained in the case of those who had been remitting property tax, if there is no stay order from the government or the court. The matter will be discussed with the Revenue Secretary and Advocate- General’’, Biju Prabhakar said.
A siege was laid to the Kadakampally village office last week by 147 families after revenue officials refused to collect property tax from them, departing from the practice till the preceding year.
Officials took a stand that since the area is under a dispute after the Salimraj case broke out, tax could not be collected, leading to tension and laying of a siege by the people.
The District Collector prevailed upon the agitators then and sought time till Saturday for discussing the matter.
Re-survey of land is aimed at segregating the stretches falling in the controversial area and otherwise, and finally contain public protest.