Farmers fear Hosur-Dharmapuri highway project will affect their farming

Record their objections following summons from the district administration

Farmers of select villages of Palacode taluk, who were summoned pursuant to objections raised by them to the proposed six-lane Hosur-Rayakottai- Dharmapuri highway project, appeared before the revenue officials of the district administration at the Collectorate here on Tuesday.

The farmers from villages of Palacode had earlier filed their objections at the camps held in the taluks that fall on the proposed alignment to the project.

Earlier, the district administration had solicited objections as mandated under the National Highways Act 48/1956 under Section 3 A (1). In pursuant of this, summons of inquiry under Section 3 C of the Highways Act was issued to record the objections.

Speaking to

The Hindu , Palanichamy, a farmer from T. Chettyhalli village at Porathur in Palacode, said he would lose 1.44 acres where he has cultivated 60 mango trees among other horticultural crops. “My sons have completed their B.E and this is the land I have for cultivation,” he says.

According to him, compensation will be only be fair above the valuation and a promised job for his sons. But that won’t happen. We hear, even acquired land are never compensated. “I was told by the people there recording the objections that they will contact me after two months, when once again they will come and inquire.”

According to another farmer Venkatesan, “they will take away my 34.5 cents, but the road would destroy the pipelines and would render to disuse the remaining land of his, left after acquisition.” The six-lane project that is floated as an expansion, however, entails a new highway through lush cultivable lands from Hosur passing through Rayakottai to Dharmapuri.