Title: Need for central intervention on the border dispute between Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
SHRI K. FRANCIS GEORGE (IDUKKI): Sir, the Vigilance Wing of the Kerala Forest Department has reported that in Attapadi in Mullai area in Palghat district of Kerala about 1000 to 4000 acres of land belonging to Kerala have been encroached upon by the neighbouring Tamil Nadu State.
It may not have been done intentionally. Perhaps it has been done inadvertently, but the point is, this has occurred in a 20 km. stretch where river Kundapuzha flows within the boundary of Kerala State. Recently, when the Attapadi block Panchayat tried to construct a water supply scheme for the tribal settlements in Mulli, the officials of the Government of Tamil Nadu objected and blocked it. Due to that there is a lot of tension prevailing in that area. The best way to solve this problem is to have a joint survey by the Survey Departments of both the States, but unfortunately the Government of Tamil Nadu is still objecting to it.
So, I request the Central Government to direct the Survey of India to conduct a joint survey by using the Survey of India map and also by involving the Survey Departments of both the States and settle this matter once and for all so that the tension is eased and normalcy returns to this area. I request the Central Government to urgently take up this matter and settle it once and for all.
MR. SPEAKER: Shri Anant Gudhe â Not present.