Government won't demolish illegal buildings in Munnar: Revenue Minister

Government has asked Revenue Secretary to identify illegal construction in a month Kerala High Court had banned buildings above three stories in Munnar and nearby areas

Kerala Revenue Minister E Chandrasekharan said the government would not demolish illegal buildings in Munnar. Assembly committee had recommended immediate removal of illegal constructions in Idukki district. 

The minister said the government would take over illegal buildings and use it for other purposes. 

"Pinarayi government has a different approach towards the issue. We don't aim to demolish buildings using excavators. The government has asked Revenue Secretary to identify illegal land transactions and resorts in the district, in a month. However, we don't aim to demolish illegal buildings on government land," the minister said. 

The government is of the opinion that land encroachment and migration are different. A probe has been initiated into alleged land encroachment by S Rajendran MLA, he said.

There were reports that tourist resorts and illegal buildings are coming up in Munnar, which includes ecologically sensitive zones and cardamon reserve areas. In 2010, Kerala High Court had put forth restrictions on big constructions in the area. Following this, a stop memo was issued to buildings under construction. 

The High Court had banned construction of buildings above three stories in the area, but the builder's sidestepped the order and continued with the works of buildings above 10 to 15 stories.