Even before the Land Acquisition Bill receives Presidential assent and became an act, farmers in Cheyyur have demanded compensation as per rates fixed in the legislation for their farmlands sought to be acquired by a subsidiary of Power Finance Corporation (PFC) for a power plant.
The farmers accused the Coastal Tamil Nadu Power Limited (CTPL), floated by PFC for implementing the 4000 MW Cheyyur Ultra Mega Power Project, of attempting to rush through the land acquisition process to avoid paying higher rate that would come into being once the Act was notified.
The CTPL is acquiring land in Cheyyur and surrounding hamlets of Chitharkadu, Vedal and Gangadevan Kuppam in the district for the project.
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The farmers of these villages in a petition presented to the district collector said the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill, 2013 passed by Parliament provided for higher compensation for farmlands acquired.
They said the CTPL was acting in “great haste” and served notice on farmers to acquire their lands for a price of 6.5 lakh per acre, the old guideline value.
The new guideline value would be four times that of the existing rate and would enable the farmers to buy alternative land to continue their occupation, representatives of the farmers said, adding they would not cede their lands till the demands were met.
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