Chambakkara: Following the directive of the District Collector, the local panchayat removed a tree that had fallen from a neighbour’s property onto the roof of a nearby house. The landowner had refused to cut down the tree, forcing the panchayat to intervene and carry out the work.

The incident took place on Monday morning at Kuruppan Kavala, Maki area in Chambakkara, where a huge tree from a neighbour’s plot was uprooted and collapsed onto the house of TT Murugan. This has caused extensive damage to his house, including the roof and walls on the first floor.

Despite an earlier order from the Collector, the landowner had not removed the tree. When informed about the incident, the owner again refused to cut down the tree or pay compensation. In protest, locals staged a road blockade under the leadership of a panchayat member. This prompted the District Collector to issue fresh instructions to have the tree removed.

According to the panchayat secretary, the cost of ₹18,000 was borne by the panchayat. The damage to Murugan’s house is estimated at nearly ₹4 lakh. An emergency panchayat committee meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday to decide further action.

Dispute over the land

The ownership of the land where the tree stood remains a matter of legal dispute. While the panchayat maintains that it is poramboke (government-owned land adjoining private property), the landowner has refused to relinquish possession. The case has been pending for several years. Panchayat officials stated that if the verdict favours the panchayat, it will be responsible for providing compensation; otherwise, the liability will fall on the landowner.

However, the landowner has firmly refused to offer any compensation. Officials also revealed that when the panchayat secretary previously attempted to act on the Collector’s order to cut down the tree, the landowner had filed a case against him as well.