Salem Collector Rohini R. Bhajibhakare on Friday insisted that the Chief Minister had announced the best possible package for the land and other properties to be acquired for green corridor project, under ‘The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013’.
He had ordered payment of two times the market value for lands situated in urban areas and 2.5 to 4 times the market value for those in rural areas.
Sharing features of the compensation package, she said that for every mature coconut tree, a farmer would get ₹50,000 as compensation. Some of the figures cited by the Collector are at variance with what the Chief Minister had announced in the Assembly. He had capped the minimum compensation per hectare of land at ₹ 20 lakh and had promised ₹40,000 for a mature coconut tree (see graphic).
On the distribution of relief funds, Ms. Bhajibhakare said that details are being prepared and the same will be submitted to the relief-rehabilitation administration officer of the National Highways Authority of India.
The Collector said that the government machinery is prepared to address all grievances of aggrieved sections of the farming community with regard to the green corridor project. Ms. Bhajibhakare claimed that only a minuscule section of farmers was opposing the project “that has otherwise elicited overwhelming support”.
When her attention was drawn to the presence of a large posse of police personnel during the survey work, she said that it was for the security of the local people and for maintaining law and order. “Police intervene and try to convince people only when the efforts of revenue officials are not successful,” the Collector said, adding that she had not received any complaints of intimidation.
In Salem, 248 hectares of land, including 186 hectares of private land, 46 hectares of poramboke land and 16 hectares of forest land are to be acquired across 20 villages in the district. So far, survey work on 126 hectares, belonging to 853 patta holders in eleven villages, has been completed.
About 90% of the 853 patta holders extended full cooperation for the land survey undertaken by the revenue teams, she said. Only 10% of the patta holders had approached the authorities seeking enhanced compensation.
The revenue teams are only undertaking a preliminary survey.
Those having objections can meet the land acquisition officer personally and submit their grievances. The Collector is the arbitrator and the aggrieved people can apply for enhanced compensation even at a later date.
A few conspiracy theories were being circulated by people with vested interests, Ms. Bhajibhakare said and called upon the local community to ignore the same.