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Saturday, Feb 23, 2008
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Improved package for evictees

Staff Reporter

Many suggestions come up at all-party meet on Vallarpadam rehabilitation

Revenue Minister K.P. Rajendran says another all-party meet will be held on Monday.

KOCHI: The Cabinet will announce an improved rehabilitation package for those displaced by land acquisition for the rail and road connectivity of the proposed Vallarpadam International Container Transhipment Terminal on February 27, Revenue Minister K.P. Rajendran said on Friday.

Addressing mediapersons after an all-party meeting convened by the Cabinet sub-committee to decide on the project, Mr. Rajendran said the present rehabilitation package would be improved based on the suggestions aired at the meeting.

He said the Cabinet sub-committee would convene another all-party meeting on Monday. The outcome of this meeting will be placed before the Cabinet meeting scheduled on February 27. Based on this, the package will be modified, the Minister said..

Asked whether the acquisition process would be suspended till the implementation of the package, he said rehabilitation and acquisition would progress simultaneously. He said timely completion of the various phases of the project was vital and any delay would adversely affect the project.

Plea to hike rent

The Minister said the meeting threw up significant suggestions. There was a demand for a better rent, than the present Rs.2,500, for those who lost houses and this should be given even after the fixed time limit of six months till they found an alternative accommodation. He admitted that it would be difficult to find an accommodation with the allotted rent in a city like Kochi. Revenue officials have been asked to consider the possibility of making available government quarters for the displaced.

“Since most of the affected families have already pledged their property there was apprehension of banks extracting their share from the compensation, stripping the people of the benefit,” he said.

Another significant demand was that the State should extract a guarantee from the Centre that job would be provided to at least one person from a displaced family.

He said the government would convey the demand to the Centre since it was a Central-aided project. The government would adopt a humanitarian approach to the issue. Land for the displaced families in all four villages has been identified.

The draw of lots for allotting rehabilitation plots to 71 displaced families was held at the Collectorate on Friday. Out of 71 families being displaced, 48 families had given consent letters.

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