ALAPPUZHA: After the demolition drive in Munnar, the Revenue Department on Friday began eviction in the coastal areas of the state. Over an acre of land encroached upon by resorts and homestays on Alappuzha coast was evicted by the department.
A team led by additional tahsildar K Sreelatha evicted encroachments in around an acre of land by Beach Symphony Resort in Mararikulam North village, and the 20 cents of land of a homestay.
While the eviction process was going on, the resort owner secured a stay order and the team had to stop the eviction process mid-way. A homestay, built by Baiju Erassery on encroached land, was demolished and a makeshift structure by Marari Beach Resort on the beach side was removed by the team.
Sreelatha said Beach Symphony Resort had encroached upon around an acre of land, of which 20 cents is surveyed land and 81.5 cents is unsurveyed. Unsurveyed land is the land developed as a result of a natural sea phenomenon over a period of time. “Constructions and the compound wall on the property were also removed. Light poles and shelter homes, erected by the Marari Beach Resort, in the revenue land were removed,” she said.
An Ayurveda treatment centre built by the homestay owner was also demolished. An official with the Symphony Resort said the Revenue Department initiated the demolition drive without serving them with a notice. “The authorities failed to adhere to the rules and regulations. So the court granted us a stay order,” he said.
Sreelatha said the department had followed all procedural formalities. A final notice was served on the parties on May 25 for the hearing to be held on June 1. The department proceeded with the drive adhering to all procedural formalities,” she said. The department has identified over 50 instances of encroachments in various parts of Cherthala taluk and the eviction process will be carried out in the coming days, she said.
Deputy tahsildars lead eviction drive
Deputy tahsildars Sunil Jose and N K Prasanna Kumar, taluk surveyors Sebastian T J and B Muraleedharan Nair, Mararikulam North village officer V J Gracy and sub-village officer Baburaj led the eviction drive. A large posse of police force was deployed in the area to prevent any untoward incident.