Kochi:
The Kerala government has filed a counter affidavit in the high court saying that
Tata Tea had ''grabbed'' forest land at Munnar. On the previous day the state government
launched eviction proceedings against Tata Tea. The
department claimed that its action was well within the act and rules for conservation
of nature and its resources. According
to the Land Board Award of 29 March, 1974, about 57,359.14 acres of land was given
on lease to Tata Tea. The government alleged that Tata Tea had converted 3,000
acres of land, and that the department wanted to prevent the ''grabbing'' of forestland. The
department also claimed that five forest offences were registered against the
company for destruction of trees from the ''shola forest area.'' It was also pointed
out that the company held an excess of 2,573.32 acre of fuel plantation at Munnar. Tata
Tea has been granted time until 12 July to file a reply.
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