Revenue Dept. accused of forcing land owners to sign consent letter

Officials threatened to initiate procedures of compulsory acquisition, say land owners

May 15, 2018 01:01 am | Updated 07:47 am IST - COIMBATORE

A land identified for the expansion of Coimbatore International Airport.

A land identified for the expansion of Coimbatore International Airport.

The acquisition of land for the expansion of Coimbatore International Airport continues to be in a fix as a section of land owners have accused the Revenue Department of forcibly collecting consent letters from them.

The land owners have alleged that the Revenue Department officials were threatening them to sign the letters, accepting the rates fixed by the land acquisition committee.

According to the land owners, the officials were threatening them of compulsory acquisition if they refused to give consent letter for the Government fixed rate of ₹900 per sq.ft. for agriculture land and ₹1, 500 per sq.ft. for residential land.

People who have land in block 1 and 2, under Singanallur village, are facing the problem as 22.54 acres of land was being used by the Airport Authority of India (AAI) for several decades under lease.

“Revenue Department has classified these land lying close to the runway as agricultural land. As no developmental or agricultural activities could be taken up on land falling within 500 metre distance from the runway, classifying them as agricultural land is not fair. Those opposing to give the consent letter are being threatened by officials stating that they will initiate compulsory acquisition,” said a land owner.

Once compulsory acquisition procedures are initiated, the compensation will have to be received through court. Though the land owner can petition for higher compensation, it would take several years.

“Higher compensation for portions of land acquired in 1992 was received after years of struggle in 2014,” said the land owner.

According to land owners, Revenue Department officials were refusing to reveal the legislation followed for the determination of land value. “One of the legislations mandates providing the market price, 30% solatium, 12 % fair market price and interest till the date of the payment of the whole sum. District Collector had earlier promised ₹1, 500 per sq.ft. for land under block 3 as it falls in the limits of Corporation. Now the official has backtracked,” said another land owner.

Revenue Department officials said that new Special Deputy Collector (Airport Land Acquisition) has taken charge and was studying the issue.

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