The delay in completing major road infrastructure work because of land acquisition issues is causing concern among people.
Projects such as the flyover at Arumparthapuram near Villianur, flyover at Thirukanchi and the one over the Uppar drain have come to a grinding halt because of poor planning in land acquisition and lack of coordination among departments concerned.
Officials claim that barring the bridge across the Uppar drain, work on the Arumparthapuram bridge and the Thirukanchi flyover has been halted because of poor coordination among departments concerned and delay in settling the compensation for landowners as per the Right to Fair Compensation in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.
The foundation stone for the ₹28.98-crore bridge at Villianur was laid in 2016 while the ₹5.13-crore limited-use subway and a two-lane flyover project got under way under the government-railway joint initiative in 2013.
Though the Southern Railway completed its part of the project over the level-crossing, the construction of the link road and portions of the bridge by the government remains incomplete because of land acquisition delays. The bridge was supposed to be completed in 2017.
Sources said the government has been dragging its feet on holding a dialogue with nine persons who had moved the Madras High Court against land acquisition for completing the bridge.
Prior to the land acquisition, a social impact assessment study was conducted as mandated under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013. Although a four-member committee conducted the study in 2017, the land acquisition process had been put on the backburner.
Sparring over rates
A dispute arose between the landowners and the government over the modus operandi to be adopted in the payment of compensation. While the landowners wanted compensation to be paid first and land to be taken over, the Revenue department took a stand that landowners must hand over the land and later get the compensation.
“Ever since the flyover was announced, four persons whose lands in Odiampet and Kurumbapet villages were identified to be acquired for laying the link road ceded the land to the government. But the families are yet to receive any compensation from the government. We are ready to hand over the land only after the government finalises the settlement amount,” said a landowner on condition of anonymity.
For residents like Udayakumar (name changed), it has been a long struggle. About 50,000 sq. ft. of his land has been identified for acquisition by the government. Although Mr. Udayakumar and a few other petitioners initially agreed to part with the land, they changed their decision after the Revenue department insisted that they should sign an affidavit that they would not go to court over the compensation awarded to them.
“I have been losing my livelihood. The government not only offered a low compensation but also classified my agricultural land as wetlands,” Mr. Udayakumar said.
Kothandam, another landowner, claimed that there were several anomalies in the guideline value of lands in Arumparthapuram.
Low prices offered
While the guideline value has been fixed at ₹920 and ₹850 per sq. ft in Oulgaret and Reddiyarpalayam, the rates for Odiampet and Kurumbapet hav been fixed at ₹210 and ₹450 per sq. ft. respectively. The market value in Odiampet and Kurumbapet revenue villages was ₹3,000 a sq. ft. while the Revenue department has offered the affected landowners a compensation of ₹900 a sq. ft, he said.
According to a senior Revenue department official, “Though the government had taken steps to acquire land for the project, a few landowners have gone to Madras High Court. Consequent to the directions of the Madras High Court, the Land Acquisition Proceedings were initiated as per the provisions of the Right to Fair Compensation in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act.”
A draft rehabilitation and resettlement scheme has been prepared and sent to the affected landowners. A public hearing of the affected landowners will be held on May 30 at the office of the sub-collector, Villianur, for their claims and objections with regard to the Rehabilitation and Resettlement entitlement.
Thirukanchi flyover
The Thirukanchi flyover, being constructed by the Public Works Department, has been facing delays because of delay in land acquisition. Work on the ₹27.13-crore flyover began in 2014 and was aimed at facilitating smooth flow of vehicles heading towards Cuddalore. However, the project has missed several deadlines forcing motorists to take detour. The project was scheduled to be completed in 2017.
According to an official, work on the flyover has been halted for the last one-and-a-half years because of delay in acquisition of land for laying the link road and removal of electric posts situated on the land. One portion of the land is with the management of a temple while remaining portion is held by private parties. Talks are under way to end the impasse and complete the project, he said.
