KOCHI: The Kochi Corporation has asked nearly 100 landowners at Brahmapuram to submit the documents of their holdings for purchase of land for the proposed solid waste treatment plant.

The setting up of the Brahmapuram Solid Waste Plant has been delayed, as the civic body could not get the land acquired for the project.

The sending of letters seeking land documents follows prolonged negotiation with the landowners on the price.

In the letter, the Corporation asks the landowners to sign an agreement with it for handing over their land.

Barring four, all others have received the letters. However, the response from the landowners is not encouraging, the Corporation officials said.

The Kochi Corporation is under pressure from the Andhra Pradesh Technology Development Corporation, which has bagged the contract for setting up the project, for handing over the required land. If the landowners refuse to enter into contract with the Corporation, the civic body will approach the authorities for getting the land acquired.

The district administration, civic authorities and the landowners had earlier entered into an agreement regarding the price of the land. By this agreement, paddy fields are to be paid Rs.16,250 per two-and-a-half cents, filled up property Rs.39,000 and proper land Rs.71,000.

However, some of the landowners are putting pressure on the civic body for getting the land reclassified, which cannot be entertained, the civic authorities said.

"If the landowners refuse to enter into an agreement with the Corporation, then the civic body will have no other option than to go for land acquisition," said Mayor Mercy Williams.

The steering committee of the Corporation, which will meet on May 4, will consider the issue and take a stand regarding the land acquisition.

The civic body may fix a deadline of May 15 for the landowners to enter into agreement with the Corporation, she said.

Rs.12-crore project

The Corporation has earmarked Rs.12 crores for the Brahmapuram project including the expense for obtaining the land.

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