In another twist to its much-hyped demolition-cum-reclamation drive against land-grabbers in Munnar, the Left government today has reportedly decided to stop the demolitions.

Government sources said the special task force there has been asked not to demolish but only file a case and seal a major unauthorized resort, which was to go under the bulldozers today. They said a decision has been taken “in principle” to make this applicable to the remaining unauthorized constructions there “so that possibilities could be explored for integrating the constructions into a master plan for the town later.”

Though the sources said this move was also to avert inviting possible legal complications over land titles, a Left front leader feared that an abrupt stoppage to the high-visibility demolition exercise may be misinterpreted and go against the government’s image. No official word is yet available on the decision.

On the defensive over VS Achuthanandan’s mess-up with the Tatas and his own revenue minister contradicting his claims, the government faced an angry opposition that stalled the state Assembly and got it adjourned for the day after the Speaker did not allow it to move an emergency motion.

Revenue minister K P Rajendran said the government was now planning to bring in a comprehensive law on the redistribution of reclaimed Munnar land, and is exploring several models for adoption.

Meanwhile, the Left Democratic Front has begun firefighting to get over the crisis the government now faces after Rajendran of the CPI made a suo motu statement in the Assembly yesterday shooting down Achuthanandan’s claim that the 1,260 acres that he personally led his officials to “recapture” was originally government land that the Tatas had hogged.

... contd.