MUNNAR: After days of intense drama, the State government on Thursday started the process to recover encroached land in Munnar.
The special squad constituted for the purpose began the drive recovering the piece of land on which a private resort was constructed illegally at Chithirapuram. Additional tahsildar Shaiju Jacob, who led the eviction team, said the 15.5 cents of land belonging to the Government Hospital Chithirapuram was encroached upon by a business group based at Muvattupuzha. The officers removed the compound wall and gate of the resort and a boundary demarcation was made.
“The Revenue Department has been examining the documents of the building. If it is found illegal, the demolition of the building will begin soon,” said Shaiju Jacob. He said the eviction notice was issued a few days ago. “The department has issued all the guidelines for constructing buildings in Munnar. At the time of the construction the officials remained silent and the demolition began after the building was completed. So, the norms of the government should be followed before constructing buildings in ecologically fragile areas like Munnar,” said Raju, a native of Chithirapuram.