Inordinate delay in notifying new Act
Picture for representational purpose
Chennai: Inordinate delay in notifying rules for the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, by the state government seems to be affecting progress of various ongoing projects with land owners demanding higher compensation as per the new Act. Though the 2013 Act came into force from January 1, 2014, the state government is yet to notify the rules under the Act. However, until the framing of rules under the 2013 Act, the state government has issued an order to pay interim compensation to land owners in cases of land acquisition initiated under section 4 (1) or section 6 of the Land Acquisition Act 1894. Additional compensation would be paid as and when the rules are notified under the new 2013 Act.
Despite government’s effort to ensure smooth progress of ongoing projects, the landowners are apprehensive about getting full compensation under the new Act. Under the 2013 Act, the landowners are entitled to get a compensation of four times price of land in rural areas and two times in urban areas. The creation of a new reservoir in Gummidipoondi taluk by Water Resources Department to augment drinking water supply to the Chennai city has ran into a rough weather with farmers of Thervoy Kandigai and Kannankottai refusing to part with agricultural lands.
Out of the total 1495 acres of land required for the project, 806 acres of patta land should be acquired. “We are going to appeal against the Madras high court order which allowed land acquisition,” 53-year-old farmer P. Vijayakumar of Kanankottai told Deccan Chronicle. In the event of the government insist on land acquisition citing ongoing works, they would consider providing land if the government pay compensation under the new Act, he said.
However, Mr Vijayakumar noted that government at present is paying a compensation of Rs 11 lakh per acre which is lesser than market price. “We want the government to pay a compensation of four times the market price. Only then we will be able to buy agricultural land elsewhere,” he said. The construction of a railway over bridge at a cost of '84 crore to replace a level crossing near Perungalathur railway station came to a standstill with revenue officials issuing land acquisition notification under the old act.
“As many as 92 persons had received the notice for land acquisition. We are planning to move court seeking higher compensation,” said S. Pandian, a resident of Perungalathur.
According to state government sources, the steps are being taken to notify rules for the Act at the earliest. “Discussions are going on with various government departments including highways department, industries, PWD and Adi Dravidar welfare department. New rules will be notified soon,” sources added.
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