Kerala local body polls: Land crunch shrinks Munnar’s ward count after delimitation

While there is an increase in the number of wards in most local bodies in the State after delimitation, it is the opposite in the Munnar grama panchayat in Idukki due to non-availability of land for house construction. The number of wards in the panchayat was 21, which declined to 20 after delimitation.

Munnar panchayat secretary G.P. Udayakumar says ward delimitation was based on the 2011 Census. “The absence of proper land for home construction has resulted in families shifting to nearby panchayats, which has led to the decrease in the number of wards in the panchayat,” he says.

“Due to the lack of land in the panchayat, the government provided money to eligible families to purchase land in nearby panchayats under the LIFE Mission scheme. These people purchased land in Marayur and Kanthallur and moved out after constructing houses there. The panchayat has allotted 180 houses under the LIFE Mission scheme in other panchayats,” he says.

According to officials, 18 of the 20 wards in the panchayat are Kanan Devan Hills Plantation’s own land. “Ward 18, Ikka Nagar, and Ward 19 in Munnar Nagar are normal land. A large extent of the panchayat is in the plantation sector, and there is no free land for house construction under the LIFE Mission. When the panchayat allots money, the families search for land in nearby panchayats,” says an official.

According to sources, there are chances of ward numbers going down in the upcoming elections. “Most of the voters in the Munnar panchayat are living in cluster homes (layams) provided by the plantation companies. The families cannot construct houses on such lands, and they are shifting to other panchayats. The lack of revenue land in the panchayat is also hindering developmental activities in Munnar,” says a source.

Tamil-speaking people are the major voters in the Munnar panchayat.