A task force formed by the State government to oversee the removal of encroachments in Munnar and other parts of Idukki district launched the drive on Thursday, by removing a total of 229.76 acres of land under Devikulam and Udumbanchola taluks. According to officials, the revenue officials took over 224.21 acres of land and buildings at Anaviratty village under the Devikulam taluk. Officials said the encroachments had been removed following a Supreme Court order. A board depicting government ownership was fixed on the land.
Another 5.55 acres of encroached land was taken over at Chinnakkanal under Udumbanchola taluk on Thursday morning. According to Revenue department officials, the cardamom plantation and buildings were under the possession of Tiju Kuriakose, an Adimali resident. The revenue officials started the eviction drive around 4 a.m. on Thursday and completed the process around 7 a.m. The eviction drive was led by Udumbanchola Land Records Tahsildar Seema Joseph.
