Spl team set up to probe land deal

Kerala government today set up a special team to probe the alleged fraudulent transfer of government land at Vattavada and Kottakamboor in Idukki district.
The team, to be headed by Additional Chief Secretary Nivedita P Haran, will have ADGP (Vigilance) Vijayanand, Chief Conservator of Forest (Protection) Surendra Kumar and Land Revenue Commissioner Mohandas as members, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy told reporters after a cabinet meeting here.
It was set up on the basis of the report of the Chief Secretary and enquiry report submitted by officials of revenue and forest departments, Chandy said.
The government has also decided to deploy a special team to Kurinjimala Sanctuary in Idukki district for fixing the boundaries of private holdings.

The revenue officials' report stated there had been widespread allegations of fraudulent appropriations of government land in Kottakamboor, Vattavada and also in some nearby villages.
There were charges that LDF-backed Independent Lok Sabha candidate of Idukki - Joyce George - had grabbed land through fraudulent deals.
On other decisions, Chandy said government was moving ahead to give final shape to an action plan to be implemented by various departments.
The cabinet also decided to give Rs 5 lakh solatium to the bereaved family of Maj Mukund Varadarajan, who was killed recently in an encounter with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir.