Kerala identifies 1382 river encroachments; Only 70 cleared till date

Alappuzha: Despite identifying encroachments on riverbanks and waterways, the Revenue Department has been unable to remove them. Of the many encroachments found along 44 rivers and waterways, 1,382 have been identified, but only 70 have been cleared so far.

A district-level survey cell was set up to identify these encroachments and take action to clear them. However, in some districts, this cell, chaired by the District Collector, remains inactive. This issue is particularly seen in Kottayam, Malappuram and Kasaragod districts, where no encroachments have been identified along the rivers.

The highest number of encroachments is in Idukki district—581 locations—525 of which are along the Periyar River. In the Peermade Taluk’s Periyar village, 25 cases have been registered under the land protection law in response to these encroachments. 

In the Manjumala village along the Periyar River, while it was reported that 500 families reside in the area, no action has been taken yet. However, 56 people who had encroached on approximately three-quarters of a hectare of land along the Panniyar River in Udumbanchola Taluk have been evicted.

In Kannur, around two hectares of encroachment have been identified, though the exact number of individuals involved remains unclear. As a result, the entire encroachment has been recorded as a single incident.

Eviction must be carried out with the cooperation of the police, revenue, survey and other departments. A special cell chaired by the District Collector, which includes representatives from these departments, is responsible for the eviction process.

Environmental activists argue that the slow pace of action is due to pressure from local bodies, political interference and the negligence of officials.

Summary of encroachment actions by districts: