The Hindu : Kerala / Kochi News : Petition against land acquisition

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Wednesday, Jul 30, 2008
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Kerala

Kerala - Kochi

Petition against land acquisition

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Tuesday admitted a writ petition seeking a direction for putting in place a rehabilitation and resettlement scheme for those affected by the acquisition of land for the proposed Kochi-Madurai Highway. Justice Pius Kuriakose, while admitting the petition filed by 27 land owners in Thiruvamkulam and Thiruvaniyoor panchayats, issued notice to the Central and State governments, the District Collector and other respondents.

The petition said the residents in the panchayats had been singled out for acquisition of land. The petitioners said they were offered a meagre compensation of Rs. 15,598 per acre. A notification was also issued directing the Collector to take possession of the land of the petitioners.

The contended that no other land had been notified for acquisition except that of the petitioners. In most palaces, the existing road had already been widened and no acquisition of land was needed. Even in the formation of the Thripunithura bypass, the alignment beyond the railway line of Ernakulam-Kottayam had not been finalised. So, one portion of the bypass could not be finalised without finalising the entire bypass. The petitioners pointed out that persons residing on the western side of the railway line would get a much higher compensation than those residing on the eastern side.

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