Settlement pact signed in Pariyathukavu land dispute

The families involved in the long-standing Pariyathukavu land dispute on Monday (June 15) signed a settlement agreement, formalising the consensus arrived at talks led by the State government to resolve the matter amicably.

The agreement was signed by the seven Dalit families residing at the Pariyathukavu at Malayidamthuruth near Kizhakkambalam and the heirs of the late Kannatt Sankaran Nair, whose claim over the land where the former have been settled was established through a prolonged legal battle.

As per the agreement, the Kannatt family will part with five cents of land each to the seven families within the disputed property. The government will ensure houses measuring not less than 1,000 sq ft for them on the land. The houses to be funded through sponsorship will be constructed within a year. The families will be allowed to stay in their existing houses until the construction of the new homes is completed.

The pact was signed during a meeting held in the District Collector’s chamber in the presence of Higher Education Minister Roji M. John and government officials. It is likely to be submitted before the High Court through the Advocate General on Tuesday (June 16).

The five-cent plots and a three-metre wide access road will be measured and demarcated by June 30 under the supervision of the Deputy Director of Survey. The access road will be handed over to the panchayat.

As per the terms of the agreement, a boundary wall will be constructed along the border separating the residents’ plots from the landowners’ property.

The Muvattupuzha Revenue Divisional Officer and the Perumbavoor Deputy Superintendent of Police have been entrusted with reviewing the progress of the conditions weekly and submitting reports to the District Collector.

The government will initiate legal procedures to withdraw all criminal cases registered in connection with the protests against the attempts to evict the families from the settlement, following court orders. Kunnathunad MLA V.P. Sajeendran, District Collector G. Priyanka and District Police Chief (Ernakulam Rural) K.S. Sudarshan were among those who attended the meet.