Accountant General’s office begins scrutiny of all illegal land holdings

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With reports of encroachment rife in the state, the Accountant General’s office has commenced verification of all illegal land holdings, starting with major plantations.

It is learnt the officers have already begun  verification of all records pertaining to sizeable land holdings with the Revenue Department, Land Commissionerate office, Land Board and the Land Resumption office.

As part of the scrutiny, they would also visit collectorates, taluk offices, land tribunals and village offices.
The officers would mainly focus on large swathes of land being held illegally by certain companies and individuals, sources privy to the development said.

“The primary aim is to identify land under the possession of British companies.  Details like who owns the land and if they have transferred it or not would also be examined,” sources said.

It would also be perused if exemption to the land was given in the name of foreign companies or the present owner.  Besides, purchase certificates, if any with these land owners, would also come under the scanner.  

Meanwhile, Revenue Minister E Chandrasekharan said the government was for protecting all public land in the state. He said the department has already taken a slew of measures to this effect.

The demand for land auditing has been gaining ground in the state. BJP state president Kummanam Rajashekaran had already lodged a complaint with the Office of the Accountant General, demanding an audit of land occupied by plantation owners.

As per a report submitted by IAS officer M G Rajamanickam on lands occupied by plantations, it was found nearly five lakh acres were held illegally by plantations, including British companies. Besides, these companies had also sold vast extent of government land under their possesion by flouting laws.