KOCHI: The long-pending Pariyatukavu land dispute in Kerala’s Ernakulam district has moved towards resolution after the affected residents and landowners signed a settlement agreement, paving the way for the rehabilitation of seven Dalit families at the same site.
The agreement was signed on Monday night at a high-level meeting chaired by Higher Education Minister Roger M. John in the presence of district officials, residents’ representatives and landowners.
The minister said the dispute, which had remained unresolved for nearly five decades, was settled after five rounds of discussions with all stakeholders.
He said, “After listening to all parties in detail, we were able to reach a final decision. I thank everyone who cooperated in reaching this settlement on behalf of the government.”
Under the agreement, each of the seven families will be allocated five cents of land adjacent to their current residence.
A three-metre-wide access road will also be provided for their use and later handed over to local councils, while a boundary wall will be constructed separating their plots from the remaining private property.
The government will oversee the construction of homes of at least 1,000 square feet for families through sponsorship arrangements, with the aim of completing the work within a year. Until then, families will be allowed to continue residing in their current homes.
The minister said that survey work to demarcate the land and the access road will begin next week under the supervision of the Survey Department and is expected to be completed by June 30. Construction of new homes will begin after the borders are completed.
The affected families will also be provided with benefits available through the Scheduled Caste Development Department, while officials have been directed to ensure their immediate delivery.
The Muvattupuzha revenue divisional officer and Perumbavoor deputy superintendent of police will supervise the implementation of the agreement and submit weekly progress reports to the district collector, authorities said.
The government also said it would take steps, in accordance with the law, to withdraw criminal cases registered in connection with the dispute. The two sides agreed to ensure peaceful implementation of the court’s directives and maintain law and order.
The signed settlement documents will be submitted to the court through the Public Defender. The conflict involved several Dalit families who had been living for decades on land claimed by private owners.
The court order ordering their eviction led to demands for their rehabilitation and sparked political controversy before the government began negotiations between the two parties.
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