Munnar sub-collector takes on land mafia
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM : At a time when land mafia are running amok with backing of politicians and industrialists, a young IAS officer in Munnar has risen against the syndicate.
Sriram Venkataraman, 30, has served eviction notices to 100 resorts and commercial establishments in the past month. As a result, he has stirred protests in the area and even a public threat from controversial Kerala minister and local strongman, MM Mani.
But the 2013-cadre officer is unfazed. “I am not afraid of anyone. I am only implementing the law of the land,” said the sub-collector, also a doctor, who bagged the second rank in the civil services examination.
He has, however, earned praise from former chief minister VS Achuthanandan, who led a massive demolition drive in Munnar 10 years ago, pulling down 92 illegal buildings and resorts.
Not all are impressed with his actions. Devikulam MLA S Rajendran (CPI-M), who built a palatial house at the heart of Munnar town, said the sub-collector was illegally dubbing valid residents as encroachers.
“It is nothing but publicity stunt. It seems the sub-collector is carried away by media glitz,” he said. Rajendran also had a running feud with Achuthanandan, who had called the MLA a part of the land mafia.
“Once they encroach upon land, they legalise it and somehow manage survey number and other details. It is an organised crime going unhindered over a period of time,” Sriram said adding land-grabbing was going at an alarming rate.
The officer says he has faced week-long protests by the ruling CPI(M) for serving notices to 100 resorts and unauthorised constructions. He also put on notice cardamom and tea plantations, which were on lease, for converting estates into resorts. Last week, a worried government beefed up his security. Two ruling alliance partners, CPI(M) and CPI, even locked horns over his operation.