'Plot for Sale' frauds must be prevented

There are increasing numbers of properties in Kerala where the owners are not present. Earlier, one member of the family used to go abroad in search of work. Now, the number of people living with their families in America and European countries is very high. None of the generation born and raised in foreign countries are even thinking about settling in Kerala permanently. Many of the huge mansions in Central Travancore are lying vacant. Even if there are any more people living there, they are all elderly couples and others. Those who had gone to the Gulf used to return year after year. Now that laws have been passed allowing foreigners to own their own homes, land, etc. in the Gulf, the number of Malayalis migrating there is likely to increase.

Most of those who have been absent for a long time have good houses and other properties in the country, as well as inherited land plots, estates, etc. The situation is that there is no one to look after many of these properties, especially in urban areas. One can see houses and land plots lying vacant in urban areas, overgrown with forests and without human habitation. When the number of properties without owners is increasing on one side, the price of land in Kerala is soaring on the other. This is the opportunity that 'plot for sale' scammers are taking advantage of. The incident of snatching a house and property in Jawahar Nagar, Thiruvananthapuram by making forged documents cannot be seen as an isolated incident. It is suspected that such gangs that snatch land are operating in many parts of Kerala.

Often, the real owner only finds out that their property has been stolen only years later. It is difficult to commit such fraud without the help of the registration and revenue departments. Gangs consisting of some real estate brokers, notaries, officials, forgers, and those pretending to be property owners are the ones who conspire to snatch houses and land that are not in their possession. It is imperative that the government take strong measures to prevent such frauds. Otherwise, many expatriates will have to find strangers living in their homes when they return after years. The government should create a system that requires those living abroad for a long time to inform them of the properties they own in their home country, along with their survey numbers, and that such properties should not be bought and sold without their knowledge.

Agencies like NORKA, which work for expatriates, should take the initiative in this. Expatriate welfare organisations should also stand up for such things. The main point in property sales information appearing on social media and other media is that the owner of the property is abroad and cannot look after the property, and therefore the property is being put up for sale at a low price. The first thing that fraudsters do is to put up a 'Plot for Sale' board on the property. If anyone objects, they will say that it is for another property and that they have made a mistake. They will proceed with the fraud if there is no objection. The government should urgently come up with a system that will nip this system in the bud, where property buyers are also scammed.