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Delay in land acquisition kicks up a row

T. Ramavarman

`Government linking land acquisition and master plan for Guruvayur'

GURUVAYUR: Protest is brewing in the temple town against the Government move to further delay the steps to acquire 25 metres of land around the Sri Krishna Temple here.

Devaswom sources told The Hindu here that the Government's strategy was to link the land acquisition with the long-debated proposal for evolving a master plan for Guruvayur and seek the permission of the court to defer the land acquisition till the formulation and implementation of the master plan.

The District Collector had issued a notice directing the Devaswom to remit Rs.6 crores as the amount for paying the compensation and meeting the establishment charges of land acquisition. The Collector had given the Devaswom time till October 26 to remit the amount.

It is at the last minute that the Government initiated steps to seek another clarification from the High Court, apparently to appease some groups that have buildings in the areas that are to be acquired.

The sources in the Devaswom said the delay in completing land acquisition would lead to additional financial burden on the Devaswom as it will have to pay interest on the compensation amount.

When contacted, Devaswom chairman K.V. Nambiar told The Hindu here that the Devaswom had received the notice from the Collector. "We will have to take a decision on the issue before October 26," he said.

K.G. Sukumaran of the Pilgrim Welfare Centre said there was need to provide facilities for the large number of devotees who thronged Guruvayur. If this had to wait till the implementation of a master plan that has not even taken shape, it will mean a betrayal of the devotees, he said.

The High Court had directed the Devaswom managing committee to formulate a master plan for the development of Guruvayur in 1994. However, nothing significant had happened and in such a context, it will be difficult to take serious note of the latest assurance of the Government on a master plan for Guruvayur town, C.V. Vijayan, secretary, Guruvayur Devaswom Employees Association, said.

Intelligence agencies too had submitted reports on the need for more space around the temple to enhance the security cover.

Many of the Devaswom managing committee members, including the chairman, are reportedly in favour of completing the land acquisition at the earliest. The managing committee had, in fact, allocated Rs.14 crores in its budget for completing the land acquisition proceedings this year.

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