KOCHI: Even after getting a favourable judgment from the High Court of Kerala in 2002, the 23 residents at the Puramboke land near Ernakulam Old Railway Station are still in dire straits. The judgment on the case which was filed against the Southern Railway in 1995 says that the residents in the Puramboke land can be evicted only after providing alternative accommodation. The authorities have not yet taken any steps to evict them or to give an alternative accommodation. The residents are demanding a solution to the hardships they are going through now. They are not sure about whether they will be asked to move out from the place or will be able to stay there permanently. The ERG Colony Samara Samithi has said that even after approaching the authorities the issue was not solved. “Everyone gave us the same answer. They promised us that a favourable decision will be taken about the issue and it will be communicated to us. But no action has been taken yet,” said ERG Colony Samara Samithi Coordination Committee president C T Babu.The ERG Colony Samara Samiti is demanding ‘Pattayam’ if they are not to be evicted from the land. Otherwise they should be given alternative accommodations as early as possible, they said. “The plans for further developments at the place should be considered only after the rehabilitation of the families residing there is done,” he said.The Samiti had approached Chief Minister Oommen Chandy to solve the problem. “The response received from the office of the Chief Minister was to approach the Departments for Revenue and Vigilance regarding the issue. We are planning to meet the Departments of Revenue and Vigilance soon,” he said.Initially, a stay order was passed by the High Court of Kerala in 1995. Later in 2002, a judgment was passed favourable to the residents of the puramboke land. “We have been living here for more than 35 years. We even have the identity cards issued by the corporation for those who stay in puramboke land. Plots of land are available in the city and outskirts now. We have been waiting for years for a favourable decision from the authorities,” said K K Kamala, who is residing in the puramboke land.“Most of the people here depend on daily-wages jobs. It is better for us if we can get a place in the city itself. But we are not against any development activities here ,” said another resident Dinu.Mayor Tony Chammany said that he would look into the issue and take necessary steps to solve it. “We have received requests from the residents regarding the issue. We will be able to take a decision on the issue only after a proper study,” he said.
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