Kerala - Kochi   

Row over Moolampilly rehabilitation package

KOCHI: The issue of rehabilitation for the construction of the proposed Vallarpadam International Container Transhipment Terminal is refusing to die down. The coordination committee for those displaced by development projects are protesting against the district administration’s interpretation of the High Court verdict on the issue.

The District Collector has convened a meeting of deputy collectors for land reforms and land acquisition on Wednesday to clear up the confusion.

“As of now, all the evictees have been given lots for allotting rehabilitation land,” said District Collector M. Beena.

A press release issued jointly by Francis Kalathunkal, coordinator of the committee and C.R. Neelakantan, chairman of the Samara Sahaya Samiti, said that the move to exclude 21 families, seven in Cheranalloor village and 14 in Eloor, from the Moolamppilly package would amount to a challenge to the social consciousness.

Even though initially the State government had announced Moolamppilly package under which it was decided to give five cents for those who gave up five cents or less and six cents for those who gave up more.

The Kerala High Court, while considering a petition by some of the families from Cheranalloor and those from Vaduthala, asked to change it to 4.5 cents and 5.5 cents and give money for rest of the land as decided by the District Level Purchase Committee.

“Minister S. Sarma has agreed at a meeting chaired by Bishop Sebastian Edayanthrath that this will be applicable to all evictees. Now, the district administration is saying that the verdict will be applicable only to the petitioners,” said Mr. Kalathunkal.

On their part, the district administration maintains that the rehabilitation process is progressing as planned. “On a normal course, the court verdict is applicable only to the petitioners. But in this case, it is learnt that there is a mention in the verdict itself making it applicable to all evictees,” said Dr. Beena.

The development comes as the Coordination committee is preparing to hold a protest march to Secretariat on November 6 to mark Moolamppilly Day.

Senior Congress leader V.M. Sudheeran will inaugurate and P.C. George, MLA, and Father John V. Thadathil will address the march, which is being held to protest against delay in handing over the rehabilitation land for evictees.

After the march, the protestors will express solidarity with those being evicted for the Vizhinjam Harbour project.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Sanoo felicitated
JRF-NET training
Youth festival
Firm to upgrade check-posts
Court to monitor investigation by CBI in Abhaya case
Call to modify pay panel proposals
Juvenile homes: State asked to form selection panel
VHP pleads for Malaysia’s Hindus
Meet on bus route notification
Cardinal to arrive tomorrow
Abandoned bag creates scare
Creating a safe environment for stray dogs is their mission
Music festival
Office opened
PWD responsible: Deputy Mayor
Row over Moolampilly rehabilitation package
“Manmohan should have talked to States”
In Kochi Today

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu