Kerala to halt all constructions in Munnar

THIRUVAANTHAPURAM: Government on Monday hinted at checking the growing construction of resorts in Munnar At a press conference held after a high-level meeting on issues related to Idukki district, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the number of resorts in Idukki should be proportionate to the requirement of accommodation in the hill station. "We need to look into the number of tourists visiting Munnar especially those who require accommodation during their stay," he said.

The Chief Minister's reaction came in the wake of unbridled construction of resorts taking place in Munnar. Many of the resorts are coming up encroached lands and in complete violation of all norms. The Chief Minister said that problems related to Munnar were peculiar in nature. Lakhs of people visit the tourist centre every year and the facilities in the town need to be properly organised.

When asked whether there would be restrictions on the construction of resorts, the chief minister said permission would be given only according to the present needs. On whether any special team would be looking into the encroachments in Munnar, the chief minister said that all these issues would be carried out by the authorities concerned. One of the issues discussed at the meeting about granting permission to farmers to cut the trees on the land. It was decided that the 28 type of trees for which permission was granted earlier, should be restored.