Kochi: The state government has finally sanctioned the dem-and of Southern Railways to open two special offices to hasten land acquisition (LA) for the Angamaly-Sabari rail project. The development would mean that funds to the tune of Rs 270 crore, earmarked by the railways for the project, can be effectively utilised without them getting lapsed or diverted. “Sanction was accorded for temporary creation of 40 posts attached to two Land Acquisition units for Angamaly-Sabari Railway Line for a period of one year,” reads the order.
Among the posts to be created for each LA unit include a special tahsildar, valuation assistant, head clerk, three revenue inspectors, and two surveyors. The district collector is responsible for setting up the units and the Commissioner of Land Rev-enue will wrap them up once the acquisition process is over. The railways should bear all establishment charges incurred for this. Though the hurdles have been removed, the actual acquisition process is expected to take a couple of months as a Social Impact Asses-sment (SIA) needs to be undertaken first.
“Since acquisition involves more than two hectares, the agency for undertaking SIA will have to be chosen by the state government unlike in acquisition of less than two hectares where the collector can select an agency,” revenue sources said. In September 2016, the Ernakulam district revenue authorities forwarded the proposal to open two special offices for land acquisition.
The railways too had raised a similar demand after the Union Budget had sanctioned Rs 233 crore for the project. Two LA units set up for the Angamaly-Sabari project at Perumbavur and Muvattupuzha were wrapped up a few years back for lack of funds. Acquisition was completed between Angamaly and Kalady while another 350 acres remain to be acquired in Kunnathunadu, Muvat-tupuzha and Kothamangalam taluks in the district. This was in addition to Rs 40 crore allocated by Railways last March and another Rs 8 crore from the previous allocation.
