KOCHI: The opposition to land acquisition for the expansion of national highway into 45-metre in the 24-km Edappally-Moothakunnam stretch in Ernakulam district is gaining momentum with the district administration speeding up the process. The NH-17 joint struggle committee, an umbrella body spearheading the campaign, plans to hold a series of people’s vigil meetings in the eight panchayats to be hit by the land acquisition. The first protest gathering was at Edappally on Thursday, ahead of a high-level meeting convened by the district collector on Friday to discuss the matter.
Inaugurating the vigil, Hibi Eden MLA said it would be inhuman to subject people who have already parted with their land to another round of evictions. Hashim Chennampilly, chairman of the committee, said the government was showing an unnecessary arrogance by insisting on the 45-metre width. The people in the stretch gave land for the expansion of highway into 30-metre without any objections 35 years ago. The government and the NHAI have not taken any initiative to develop the highway despite having the land in their possession, he said.
A six-lane highway at the Edappally-Angamally stretch is already in existence with 30-metre width, and the government has agreed to the same in the Kazhakoottam-Kaliyikkavila stretch in Thiruvananthapuram, he added. He also expressed concern over NHAI rejecting the proposal for an elevated highway citing cost escalation. He claims it is not costly taking into account the compensation for the land acquisition. A minimum of 100 acres of land needed for the 45-metre width, and even if Rs 10 lakh is given as compensation per cent, the total amount will be Rs 1,000 crore. The cost for buildings and compensation for rehabilitation of shop owners and workers will be in addition.
