Hibi Eden, civic body lock horns over title deeds

Kochi: A controversy is brewing over granting title deeds to 42 families at Mannullypadam colony in Ravipuram in the city with the Kochi Corporation ruled by Congress locking horns with local Congress MLA Hibi Eden. Hibi had come out with the proposal to grant title deeds to these families but the row between the Revenue Department and Kochi Corporation regarding the jurisdiction over the land has landed the proposal in trouble.

According to Mr Eden, the village officer concerned and the District Collector had given a favourable report to grant title deed to these families but the Kochi Corporation was yet to give No-Objection Certificate (NOC) for the proposal.

According to him only 35 families are to be given title deeds. He said that despite the controversy over the jurisdiction, the revenue authorities are willing to give up claim and give the land to the families but the Corporation is yet to give NOC. Mr Eden also said that the revenue authorities had never been so forthcoming.

Mr Eden said this was the first issue submitted by him to the Mayor but even after several council sittings, no decision has been made. “These people are cleaning workers who remove garbage in the city. The area was initially used as grazing land but it later turned into a settlement,” said Mr Eden. According to David Parambithara, the Corporation Councillor in the area who belongs to Congress, there are a few Corporation family quarters in the area. “If the land was Revenue land, then how could these staff quarters come there?

The Corporation Secretary has given a report saying that the land is owned by the Corporation and the land cannot be given to the tenants. So we have to take a decision on it after examining the records and issues,” he said. Mr Parambithara said that there are 42 families claiming land there.