Idukki, Saturday 06 February 2010: KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala has said that the State government was following a policy of protecting encroachers in Munnar and was trying to penalise the farmers in the entire district, who had immensely contributed to the agriculture sector.

Addressing a public meeting here organised by the Kanchiyar mandalam Congress committee on Friday night, Chennithala said that his party stood for providing title deeds to all the farmers who had occupied the land in the district before January 1, 1977.

He said that farmers in the district were facing innumerable problems with the village offices denying land certificates to the farmers. These certificates are required to avail bank loans and other benefits.

The Congress will provide all support for evicting major encroachers in Munnar, but the government was protecting the encroachers, Chennithala said. He said that there was no collective responsibility in the functioning of the government and this was the reason why the Ministers and the Chief Minister have different views on major issues including the Munnar issue.

This is evident from the Advocate General’s statement, he said.
The Advocate General had informed the High Court that the government had not issued notice for the demolition of check dams constructed by the Kanan Devan Tea Company in Munnar.