Deputy Collector to oversee routine MPMC sessions; District Collector to handle major disputes
Photo Credit: THULASI KAKKAT Via The Hindu
Ernakulam, July 26: In a long-awaited move, the Moolampilly Package Monitoring Committee (MPMC) — formed to oversee the rehabilitation of families displaced for the Vallarpadam International Container Transshipment Terminal project — will now hold regular meetings, addressing a long-standing demand of affected families.
The decision was made during the latest MPMC session held on July 21, 2025, at the office of Ernakulam District Collector N.S.K. Umesh. The next meeting is scheduled for August 22, 2025, after which the Deputy Collector for Land Acquisition will take over as the chair for routine meetings. The District Collector will intervene only in cases involving disputes or sensitive issues.
MPMC to Meet Consistently After Years of Delay
The MPMC was established to monitor the implementation of the Moolampilly rehabilitation package, meant for families who were evicted to make way for rail and road connectivity to the terminal. However, while the committee was originally mandated to meet monthly, it had only done so sporadically over the years.
For example, prior to the July 2025 meeting, the last session was held on June 27, 2024, which itself came after a five-year hiatus. This irregular functioning had drawn strong criticism from the Moolampilly Rehabilitation Package Coordination Committee, a collective representing the interests of the displaced families.
MLA Intervention Sparks Action
The latest MPMC meeting was prompted by an intervention from Thrikkakara MLA Uma Thomas, following persistent efforts by the coordination committee. Office-bearers met her in person and urged her to push for monthly monitoring meetings.
“We presented a charter of demands and the meeting discussed each issue in detail. A clear timeline has been fixed and responsibilities have been assigned to respective departments. We have been assured that the minutes of the meeting will be made available within 10 days,” said Francis Kalathungal, general convener of the coordination committee.
Key Demands and Structural Changes
The primary demand in the charter was the regular convening of MPMC meetings. In view of the District Collector’s multiple administrative duties, the committee proposed that the Deputy Collector for Land Records should be responsible for holding the meetings consistently.
The Revenue Additional Principal Secretary had originally constituted the MPMC after a high-level discussion in the Chief Minister’s chamber on June 6, 2011. Initially, the meetings were conducted regularly but gradually became infrequent, causing delays in addressing grievances and implementing rehabilitation benefits.
A New Chapter for Moolampilly Families?
With the decision to regularise MPMC sessions, affected families are hopeful that unresolved rehabilitation matters — including land allocation, compensation, and resettlement — will now see progress. The coordination committee has insisted that timely meetings are crucial for accountability and transparency in implementation.
The upcoming meeting on August 22 is expected to review pending issues, track deadlines, and ensure that government departments remain responsive to the concerns of those displaced by one of Kerala’s largest infrastructure projects.
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