Acquisition to develop national highway at 45 metres
Picture used for representational purpose. (Photo: DC/File)
Kochi: Chief Secretary E.K.Bharat Bhushan on Tuesday submitted before the Kerala High Court that the Government had initiated all possible efforts to expedite land acquisition so that National Highways could be developed at 45m width to meet the traffic needs of the State.
The submission was made in an affidavit filed on a plea filed by National Highway Vikasana Samrakshana Samithi, seeking a directive to the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) to widen the existing NH 17 and NH 47 to a minimum width of 45 metres. The court had asked the Chief Secretary to file an affidavit.
According to the State, land acquisition at the Walayar-Edappally stretch had been completed and the development work of Right of Way (ROW) to 45 meters had been completed from Edappally to Thrissur. Even though notifications were published twice for acquiring land along the Cherthala-Kazhakkoottam stretch, it got lapsed due to the non-completion of Section 3D survey within one year.
The notification lapsed due to differences of opinion as to whether the width should be 30 metres or 45 metres. There was public resistance to the laying of survey stones in several areas along the stretch, the affidavit said.
“There are so many temples, mosques and churches on both sides of NH 17 and NH 47 and all obstructions come from religious groups when we try to acquire a piece of land, a temple, a mosque or a church”, the affidavit said. The State further stated that it was the policy of the Government to develop NH 17 and NH 47 with ROW to 45 metres. There was no intention on the part of the Government to reduce the ROW, the Chief Secretary submitted.
Notice on +2 to Cabinet committee
Kochi: The Kerala high Court on Tuesday issued notice to the Cabinet Sub Committee on a plea challenging the controversial decision to issue a fresh list of plus-two schools. The Cabinet Sub Committee had made changes to the list prepared by the six-member committee appointed by the State Government.
The High Court on Monday had made it clear that only the schools recommended by the six-member committee could start plus- two courses and additional batches this year. The court had issued the notice on a plea filed by Perikkalloor Government Higher Secondary School in Wayanad. The petitioners challenged the fresh list published by the Cabinet Sub Committee, surpassing a six-member committee headed by the Higher Secondary Education Director.
No approval to Sobha builders
Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Thursday asked the Sobha City Development not to carry out any construction at Puzhakal Padam, Kuttoor, in Thrissur. A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Ashok Bhushan and Justice A.M.Shaffique issued the directive on a petition filed by Adv Vidhya Sangeeth, Thrissur District panchayat member, challenging the inaction of the Government in taking action against the illegal filling of paddy land.
The court observed that there existed no order granting permission to Sobha Developers to carry out construction at Kuttoor.
The petitioner alleged that Sobha Developers was filling paddy fields and going ahead with the construction despite the fact that a stop-memo had been issued. The counsel for Sobha Developers submitted that the concern had neither taken up any construction nor filled paddy fields.
( Source : dc correspondent )
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