THIRUVANATHAPURAM: Already infamous for its unregulated pollution spree, the English Indian Clays Limited, Veli (EICL) is now ready to be adorned with an added title; ‘encroachers’. The latest land survey conducted under the directive of the District Collector reportedly shows more land in possession of the company than what was actually leased out to it in 1966. The survey report which is to be submitted to the Tahsildar on Monday shows that the company owns about 24.5 acres of land, which is more than the actual 9.07 acres on which the firm presently functions. Even in the application filed by the company for the renewal of lease for 25 years, EICL has demanded that the lease be renewed over 9.07 acres. This increase in the acreage possessed by the company has confirmed the grievances of 45 landowners of the properties lying adjacent to the company. The survey was held following the complaint filed by the landowners regarding the illicit construction of compound wall and unauthorised dumping of clay slurry by EICL on their properties. According to the GO dated 18-5-1966, the company was leased out 31.785 acres of land at Veli for mining purpose. However, during the course of time, the company had surrendered a considerable amount of land back to the government, bringing down its actual possession from 31 acres to 9.07 acres. Going by the latest survey report, the company has rendered itself culpable of a clear case of encroachment. EICL has been repeatedly acting against the norms laid out in the lease agreement. Contrary to the lease terms, the company has denied the landowners their established rights of way and has dug pits and pools on their properties without consent. When the matter was pointed out to him, the Tahsildar told City Express that any kind of irregularities will be probed with the directive of the District Collector. ‘’The final sketch of the report is not ready yet. We will assess the report and confirm whether the company has really encroached on the adjacent properties. In case of such an encroachment, the government will initiate measures against EICL,’’ he said. Even the present acreage where the company functions is, in fact, recoverable, according to the lease agreement. City Express had earlier reported how EICL has continuously evaded lease payment incurring arrears of a whopping ` 2.64 crore till 1998. The lease agreement clearly mentions how the land can be recovered in case of failure in the payment of lease arrears.
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