With the Tamil Nadu government facing strong opposition against its decision to acquire farm as well as private land for a proposed eight-lane Salem-Chennai green corridor, Salem Collector Rohini R. Bhajibhakare on Friday spelt out details of the compensation to the affected landowners.
She contended that landowners stood a fair chance of getting a minimum of ₹21.5 lakh per hectare and a maximum of ₹9.04 crore per hectare. Owners of petty shops and cattlesheds etc. would get ₹50,000 for shifting. The government was prepared to redress grievances with regard to the project, she said.
Ms. Bhajibhakare on Friday insisted that the Chief Minister had announced the best possible package for the land and other property to be acquired for the green corridor project under ‘The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013’.
He had ordered payment of two times the market value for lands situated in urban areas and 2.5 to 4 times the market value for those in rural areas, she said.
Sharing features of the compensation package, she said that for every mature coconut tree, a farmer would get ₹50,000 as compensation.
Some of the figures cited by the Collector, however, are at variance with what the Chief Minister had announced in the Assembly. He had capped the minimum compensation a hectare at ₹ 20 lakh and promised ₹40,000 for a mature coconut tree (see graphic).
On distribution of relief funds, Ms. Bhajibhakare said details were being prepared and the same would be submitted to the relief-rehabilitation administration officer of the National Highways Authority of India.
''Overwhelming support''
The Collector claimed that only a minuscule section of farmers was opposing the project “that has otherwise elicited overwhelming support”.
When her attention was drawn to the presence of a large posse of police personnel during the survey work, she said that it was for the security of the local people and for maintaining law and order. “Police intervene and try to convince people only when the efforts of revenue officials are not successful,” she said, adding that she had not received any complaints of intimidation.
In Salem, 248 hectares, including 186 hectares of private land, 46 hectares of poramboke land and 16 hectares of forest land are to be acquired across 20 villages in the district. So far, survey work on 126 hectares, belonging to 853 patta holders in 11 villages, was over.
About 90% of the 853 patta holders extended full cooperation for the land survey. The ramining percentage of people had approached the authorities seeking enhanced compensation.
The revenue teams were only undertaking a preliminary survey, she pointed out.
Those having objections could meet the land acquisition officer personally and submit their grievances. The Collector is the arbitrator and the aggrieved people could apply for enhanced compensation even at a later date.
A few conspiracy theories were being circulated by people with vested interests, Ms. Bhajibhakare said and called upon the local community to ignore the same.
