Munnar Hills being raped, says Kerala HC

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice S R Bannurmath and Justice Thothathil B Radhakrishnan directed that action be taken against encroachments in river perumboke (government land) and restrained construction on shores of rivers and river beds.

The court felt that the government remained a mute spectator as the land mafia gobbled up acres of government land through fraudulent title deeds. The court has observed that the encroachments have resulted in massive reduction in tree cover in this tourist destination.

The court directed the Idukki District Collector to submit a report on the encroachments and also asked the revenue, police and forest authorities to ensure that mining of sand, earth or laterite from the town did not take place for two months.