THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state has not made much headway in the land acquisition for the NH development with 45-metre width in spite of the centre’s assurance to meet the costs. The bottlenecks are mostly in Malappuram and Kollam districts. Though 1300 hectares of land is needed, so far only eight hectares has been acquired. Currently, works on Mannuthy – Edapally (72 km), Mannuthy – Valayar ( 88 km) and Kazhakkoottam – Mukkola (26.5 km) stretches are progressing. However, out of 977 hectares required on the NH 17 stretch of 421 km, only 339 hectares has been acquired.
“In Thalappady – Kannur (130 km) stretch, only 303 hectares has been acquired. In Kannur – Vengalam (88 km) stretch, 249 hectares is required. For Vengalam – Kuttipuram (88 km) stretch, 143 hectares and for Kuttipuram – Edapally (121 km) stretch, 282 hectares is needed,” said a senior PWD official.
PWD officials say that in Cherthala – Oachira (86 km) stretch, 114 hectares of land and in Oachira – Kazhakoottam (86.9 km) stretch, 142 hectares is required on NH 47.
Also, from Mukkola to Tamil Nadu border of 16.5 km, 96 hectares has to be acquired. So to develop a four-lane road on NH 47 alone requires 352 hectares of land out of a total stretch of 189.4 km. A combined total of 1329 hectares (NH 17 – 977 hectares and NH 47 – 352 hectares) is needed for the NHAI to develop both the NH 17 and NH 47. A senior PWD official told DC that the new PWD minister G. Sudhakaran was yet to take a decision on land acquisition.
“Several senior officials of both PWD and Kerala Road Fund Board were unaware of the video conferencing initiated by Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari last week. The PWD minister is yet to appoint his team of officials,” said another PWD official.
Close to 20 special tahsildars who were appointed to speed up the land acquisition process are still there. But former PWD secretary A. P. M. Mohammed Hanish told DC that the NHAI had not provided them the cost estimate.
“Only if we complete 85 percent of land acquisition, we can proceed with the construction process. Land acquisition officers are still functioning and concerted efforts have to be made by the politicians and the people alike,” said Mr Hanish. The LDF’s manifesto had made it clear that it would develop four lanes on NH 17 and NH 47 stretches.
Mr Abullais Thenhippalam, Malappuram district convener of NH 17 action council, said that land for development with 30-metre width had been handed over to NHAI. “Only six lanes have been developed in 30 metres in Karamana–Kaliyikkavila stretch. The central government’s stand that NH can be developed only if we part with land for 45 metres of width is a ploy to help the BOT lobby,” he said.
He also alleged that efforts were on to evict the local population and enforce toll so as to appease the corporate interests. The action council is expected to call on Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and the PWD minister soon to demand development of four lanes in 30-metre width.
