THE FATE OF MUNNAR

TEA ESTATE, MUNNAR

TEA ESTATE,  MUNNAR

In 1877 July 11th an agreement was entered in to between Poonjar Kerala Varma Valiya Raja and John Daniel Munro of KDHP for the leasing of thousands of acres of land in Munnar for plantation of Tea gardens.In 1878 Nov 26 the Maharaja of Travancore had ratified the agreement which ensured the maintenance of water resources by the lessee.The violations of the agreement also begins from thereon.In 1977 Tata tea ltd had taken over the land from KDHP which is clear violations of the original agreement.On 7-7-1956 the government of Kerala had taken over 214.50 acre of land from KDHP for the development of Munnar town.

EAST END RESORT, MUNNAR

MUNNAR TOWN

 Again in 1965 the government had taken over214.42 acre of land for the same purpose.It is not known whether Kerala Government had done any developments in Munnar Town and pursued the matter further.It is doubtful whether the original orders taking over the land and the connected records are in the possession of the government now.Kerala Government has not taken sincere steps to locate the excess land if any in the
possession of Tata Tea ltd.The company has also withdrawn from the field of maintenance of of Tea estates and handed over the tea estates to a society formed by the employees and staff of Tata Tea ltd retain nominal share and a few institutions there.Kerala government is now seriously thinking about the taking over of the Munnar township for its development by legislation.

KDHP GENERAL HOSPITAL, MUNNAR

No effective steps have been taken by the Government to evict the encroaches big or small from the lands of Munnar which is an ecologically important place and is known as the Switzerland of Kerala.Everybody who visits the Munnar now can see the once beautiful place has deteriorated to a jungle of concrete structures and in the near future Munnar will disappear from the tourist map.