Revenue officials recover encroached land worth ₹12 crore in Kakkanad

Kakkanad: Revenue officials have recovered ‘puramboke’ land (unassessed land)beside the Seaport – Airport Road in Kochi, having a market value of ₹12 crore, from certain private persons, who had kept the plot in unauthorised possession.

The land, located near the Kakkanad TV station, was taken over by a team of officers led by Kanayannur tahsildar D Vinod. Having a total area of 35 cents, the plot could have fetched ₹30-35 lakh for each cent.

The revenue officials also seized an earth mover, which was engaged in preparing the land for development, and handed over its custody to the police. Evidence of felling trees on the plot and taking away the wood was also obtained by the revenue team.

A large plot, except for the 35 cents, which has now been recovered, was earlier purchased by a private construction company from the government. However, some people encroached on the 35 cents and separated the area by installing a fence. These people brought an earthmover to level the plot, which was noticed by Pramesh V Babu, CPI’s local secretary in Thrikkakara, who filed a complaint with the revenue authorities.

Subsequently, the revenue team arrived at the plot on Friday. After taking the earthmover into custody, the officials measured the land. “We will install a board announcing the Revenue Department’s ownership over the plot,” said the tahsildar. The revenue team also included deputy tahsildar Bino Thomas and special village officer C C George.