THODUPUZHA: After delaying it for more than seven months, the Governor has signed the Land Assignment amendment bill passed by the government in the Legislative Assembly to overcome the construction ban that came into effect across the state with the intervention of the court starting from Munnar.

It started in 2010 when an environmental organization approached the High Court to stop land encroachment and illegal construction in Munnar. The court ordered that the revenue department's no objection letter should also be obtained for construction permission in Munnar. Anavilasam village, 100 km away, and Santhanpara village, 40 km away, were listed among the eight villages in Munnar in the report submitted by the revenue department to the court. With this, the people of these villages had to repeatedy visit the revenue offices for building permission. An organization called Athijeevana Poratta Vedhi approached the High Court against the discrimination of making NOC mandatory only in certain villages. The court sought an explanation from the government. Following this, on August 22, 2019, the Revenue Department issued an order imposing construction restrictions in the entire Idukki district under the Land Assignment Act. The organization approached the court again. The High Court ruled that the Land Development Act of 1964 was applicable not only in the district but also in the entire state. The government approached the Supreme Court against it. As the Supreme Court upheld the order of the High Court, the government was forced to amend.

Only houses were permitted according to earlier law

The Land Assignment Act was enacted in 1960 by the Pattom Thanu Pillai government to allocate revenue land. Land Assignment Rules came in 1964 when R Shankar became Chief Minister. According to Rule IV, land can be used only for agriculture and building houses. This is what led to the construction ban. The amendment will allow those granted pattayam under the 1960 Act to bypass the restrictions and use the land. The bill will validate the constructions on the pattayam allottee's land till the date it comes into effect and will provide permission for new constructions.

More than seven months of waiting

The Legislative Assembly unanimously passed the Land Assignment Bill on September 14, 2023. The LDF marched to the Raj Bhavan on January 9 since the Governor did not sign the Bill even after months. LDF had observed a hartal and waved black flags when the Governor came to Thodupuzha that day.