THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The passing-out parade of the first batch of the Public Land Protection Force (PLPF) assigned to protect public land from encroachers would be held this month-end, Revenue Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan said on Tuesday.The PLPF consists of ex-servicemen in uniform who would act as supporting staff to the District Collector concerned in physically evicting encroachers. They would also keep an eye on government lands.When contacted, Land Revenue Commissioner K B Valsalakumari said that the first batch consists of 15 men and the passing-out parade would be held on March 27 at Devikulam in Idukki district.The idea of PLPF was originally mooted to protect government land recovered from encroachers in Idukki district. The 30 personnel would be under three platoon heads, selected on the basis of the rank they held in the Armed Forces.Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan told the Assembly that around 2009 acres have been taken over in Idukki district alone after this government came to power.Of surplus land recovered from various parts of the state, 578.19 hectares remains to be distributed to the landless. 29,874.80 hectares have been distributed so far. 6,302.55 hectares could not be taken over owing to disputes and court cases. “The government also hopes to successfully implement the Zero Landless (Citizens) Kerala initiative by 2015,” he said.
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