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Key Points

Congress MLA Mathew Kuzhalnadan has strongly criticized the Kerala government's proposed amendment to the Land Reforms Act. He calls it a "final noose" around hill communities in Idukki and other high-range areas. The MLA alleges the amendment will complicate land disputes and mislead the public through false propaganda. Kuzhalnadan warns this will hit settlers hardest and stall development prospects in the region.

Key Points: Congress MLA Kuzhalnadan Slams Kerala Land Reforms Amendment as Noose

  • Amendment bans construction on newly assigned lands stalling development
  • Accuses government of double taxation with additional building fees
  • Claims move betrays LDF's pre-election promise of unconditional titles
  • Regularization of violations until June 2024 offers minimal benefit to settlers
2 min read

Kerala: Land Reforms amendment a 'tight' noose on hill communities, says Cong MLA Kuzhalnadan

Congress MLA Mathew Kuzhalnadan criticizes Pinarayi Vijayan govt's Land Reforms Act amendment, calling it a "final noose" for Idukki hill communities.

"The government now seeks to impose restrictions once again while misguiding the public with distorted campaigns - Mathew Kuzhalnadan"

Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 28

Congress MLA Mathew Kuzhalnadan on Thursday strongly criticised the Pinarayi Vijayan government’s proposed amendment to the Land Reforms Act, calling it “the final noose” around the necks of hill communities in Idukki and other high-range regions of Kerala.

On Wednesday, the Vijayan Cabinet approved an amendment to the decades-old Land Assignment Act, meeting a long-pending demand of people living in the state's high ranges to resolve various land-related issues.

But Kuzhalnadan alleged that the Cabinet’s decision would further complicate long-pending land disputes and was aimed at misleading the public through “false propaganda".

According to him, the government has ignored the genuine demand for the free utilisation of assigned land by its owners.

The government recently announced that violations in land use up to June 2024 would be regularised by charging a fee.

However, Kuzhalnadan pointed out that the Congress led UDF had earlier recommended removing all restrictions on assigned land and ensuring uninterrupted usage rights for owners.

Both he and former minister P.J. Joseph had submitted such proposals, he reminded.

“The government now seeks to impose restrictions once again while misguiding the public with distorted campaigns,” the MLA alleged.

He warned that the draft amendment would ban construction on newly assigned lands, effectively stalling development prospects in high-range areas.

Kuzhalnadan said the move would hit settlers the hardest, especially in Idukki, and accused the government of deliberately creating complexities since coming to power.

Even though violations up to June 2024 may be regularised, the benefit would be minimal, he argued.

He also criticised the government’s decision to levy additional fees on buildings larger than 1,500 sq. ft., despite owners already paying building tax once.

“This amounts to an unjustified double taxation aimed at squeezing revenue from ordinary people to cover the government’s financial crisis,” he said.

Calling the draft amendment “illegal and arbitrary,” Kuzhalnadan said the Congress and UDF would expose the government’s move.

He accused the LDF of betraying its pre-election promise of granting unconditional land titles, and instead, curbing the rights of settlers in the high ranges.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Double taxation on buildings? This is absolutely unfair! We already pay taxes and now they want more for the same property. Typical government tactic to fill their empty coffers.
M
Michael C
While I understand the concerns about restrictions, maybe some regulation is needed to prevent uncontrolled construction in ecologically sensitive high-range areas? There should be a balanced approach.
S
Suresh O
LDF government has completely betrayed the hill communities. Before elections they promised the moon, and now they're putting chains on us. This is why people lose faith in politicians.
A
Ananya R
The regularization until June 2024 is just an eyewash. Most people in the high ranges don't have proper documents because the system has failed us for decades. Now they want to punish us for their failures?
K
Karthik V
Construction ban on newly assigned lands will completely stop development in these regions. Young people are already migrating to cities for jobs, and now this? Our hills will become ghost territories.

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