50 Years on, Families on Banks of Koottupuzha Wait for Title Deeds

Ayisha

Iritty: Almost half a century has passed since the oldest among the 12 families began their life on the banks of the Koottupuzha on Kerala-Karnataka border. In last May three of them were evicted for the new bridge to be built across the Koottupuzha as part of the renovation works of Thalassery-Valaupara Road (to Kodagu) under the KSTP. The rest of the families are also under the threat of imminent displacement. Yet, the determination visible in the eyes of Ayisha, one of the inhabitants on the Purambokku land, to move ahead in life would startle anyone.
    The families of Ayisha and others find their livelihood through sand mining in the Koottupuzha and minor clearing and planting works in the Karnataka forest. They are labourers of e-sand scheme of Kannur district, voters of Peravaur constituency and remitting tax at Payam panchayat. They possess ration cards of the Kerala state and power connection of the KSEB but denied of title deeds, which resulted in losing the reasonable compensation offered during recent land acquisition.
  It may seem strange that all of them purchased the purambokku land decades ago from a person known as ‘Ottakakm Kakka’ who sold out government land scattered amidst Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary and Kottupuzha River. As soon as they realised that they had no legal rights on the land they began knocking at all doors yet no one helped them. With much anguish the locals said in one voice that the politicians populated the area ahead of every elections showering false promises.
   “K P Noorudheen, Congress leader and former MLA of Peravoor had promised title deeds for the lands of my father Hydru a decade ago. But Revenue officials later informed that title deed offered to him had been issued for someone else with the same name. We don’t beg for anyone’s mercy as we know how to strive ahead in life,” says Ayisha.
   It was in May, the houses of Chellamma, Sobhana and Sarojini were demolished as part of land acquisition for the new bridge. All of them were given a consolidated amount of Rs 1.5 lakh as compensation for their land and house and they found shelter in rented homes at Peratta and Makkutta where they are paying Rs 4,000 a month. As land prices have crossed a lakh for a cent in the region these poor people cannot afford buying new land or build a house. On the narrow strip of land between the forest, highway and the river they find tiny moments of happiness amidst harsh realities. During summer they have to pay Rs 100 for a can of potable water. A land slide would be fatal for them, and if the river floods their huts would be submerged in water but they await title deeds or a reasonable rehabilitation. 
  “As long as there is water in Kootupuzha and we are able to collect firewood from the forest we will survive. Still a strong roof over our heads is a dream for us too,” Ayisha concluded narrating her hard-earned life with full of optimism for kindness from authorities and philanthropists. 
June 5,2013 
The New Indian Express