Woman lives in snake fear, minister orders to clear bush in neighbour’s plot

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Kochi: Rarely does it take a minister’s intervention to clear the bush in private property. It did happen at Aluva in Kerala’s Ernakulam district on Tuesday. Industries Minister P Rajeeve made the rare intervention at the state government’s adalat – a forum to address long-pending complaints – following a complaint filed by Valsala Asokan, a resident of Chengamanadu panchayat in Aluva taluk.
The minister ordered the secretary of the Chengammanadu panchayat to take steps to clear the bush in an unused plot in the neighbourhood of Valsala. In her complaint, Valsala sought the government’s help saying she has been living under the fear of snakes in the unused plot. She said a python was caught from the plot a few months ago. Earlier, she had filed a similar complaint with the panchayat authorities and the secretary had inspected the area and verified that her concern was genuine. The bushes on the property were cleared then after the panchayat issued a notice to the owner of the land. However, the bushes regrew, bringing back Valsala’s fears, and forcing her to move the adalat. The minister has directed the panchayat secretary to charge the expenses of the work from the property owner.
As many as 202 complaints were received at the adalat at the taluk level. Of them, 135 were resolved. Ministers Rajeeve and P Prasad led the adalat. Most of the complaints were about encroachment and issues relating to land survey and resurvey. Aluva MLA Anvar Sadath, municipality chairman M O John, District Collector NSK Uumesh and Sub Collector K Meera were among the officials who attended the adalat.