International Tourism hub in Munnar; 1200 acres of land owned by Kannan Devan will be acquired
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The government will acquire 1200 acres of land to make Munnar an international tourism hub. It is a Rs 2 lakh crore project. The government is acquiring 1200 acres of land held by Kannan Devan Hills Plantation Company (KDHP) in Munnar town, Mattupetty areas and Silent Valley by cancelling the lease. The Kannan Devan Hills (Acquisition through Land Reclamation) Bill 2025 will be introduced in the next assembly session. The draft has been prepared. Munnar was chosen taking into account the suggestion of Planning Board member and world traveller Santosh George Kulangara.
Although owned by the government, the lion's share of the village of Kannan Devan Hills, which includes Munnar town and its surrounding areas, is owned by the Tata-owned KDHP company. The land, which was leased from the King of Poonjar to the British citizen Munro, was acquired by the company through transfers. When the company asserted ownership of the land, the government vested ownership of the entire land in the village through legislation in 1971. As per the 1971 Act, all the plantations and land suitable for conversion to plantations were returned to the KDHP on lease. This included areas in Munnar town where businesses were located, the public market and the playground. An ordinance was issued in 2010 to acquire this land, but it expired in 2013.
International tourism companies, casinos
🔘 Ventures utilizing investments of companies operating in the tourism sector at the international level
🔘 Star cottages, hotels, resorts, casinos, riding / gaming establishments, air strip
Provision in the bill for compensation
🔘 Compensation will be based on the period from the date of possession of the lessee to the date of acquisition
🔘 Compensation will be based on the rate at the time of acquisition for buildings.
🔘 5 percent depreciation will be calculated per year. Maximum 50 percent
🔘 An officer not below the rank of Deputy Collector/Land Revenue Joint Commissioner will be appointed to provide compensation
🔘 Application for compensation should be made within one month from the date of notification of the bill or within a date not exceeding two months as may be extended by the government