Kerala - Kochi   

Order on Vallarpadam resettlement scheme

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Friday directed the State government and other respondents to formulate and implement a rehabilitation and resettlement scheme for those affected by the road and rail connectivity for the proposed Vallarpadam International Container Transhipment Terminal. The court issued the interim direction on a batch of petitions filed by landowners.

Justice Pius C. Kuriakose allowed the petitioners to exercise the option of either selling their property at the value fixed by the district-level purchase committee (DLPC) or receiving the compensation fixed under the Land Acquisition Act. If either of the options was not exercised, the applications filed by the landowners would be processed under the Land Acquisition Act. Those who were awarded compensation could approach the land acquisition officer for referring the question of further compensation to civil court.

The court directed the respondents to ensure that four and a half cents of land was allotted to the landowners who surrendered less than 5 cents. Persons who surrendered more than five cents should be allotted five and a half cents. The court ordered that the respondents ensure that the landowners were paid special rehabilitation allowances equivalent to the value of half a cent as fixed by the DLPC. The court also directed the respondents to ensure that the land allotted to the evictees was made fit for putting up double-storeyed constructions, if necessary by reclaiming land. Besides, it would be obligatory on the part of the respondents to ensure that those allotted land were permitted to undertake constructions without objections from authorities such as the Coastal Zone Management Authority or local self-government institutions. The petitioners should be given a rent at the rate of Rs.5,000 a month.

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