From rxpgnews.com
Demolition of encroachments begins in Kerala hill station
By IANS,
May 13, 2007 - 6:55:05 PM
Munnar -, May 13 - A three-member team of the Kerala government Sunday began demolishing resorts that came up on public land in the popular hill station of Munnar.
The government Wednesday decided to bring an ordinance declaring Munnar a special area and to pull down all tourist resorts built on encroached government or forest land.
The V.S. Achuthanandan government formed has formed a team of Idukki District Collector Raju Narayana Swamy, Inspector General of Police Rishi Raj Singh and Suresh Kumar, official in Achuthanandan's office and asked it to demolish close to 250 resorts in and around Munnar.
Official records show that about 3,500 resorts have come up in this area in the last seven years.
Armed with a huge police team, the three officials arrived at a four-storied resort built on encroached land. Opened barely two months ago, the resort was expected to be completely demolished by night.
The government move followed the recommendations of Revenue Secretary Nivedita P. Haran's report.
After visiting the hill station April 28, Chief Minister Achuthanandan said the town was destroyed by tourist resort mafia who had encroached upon forest land.
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