The Revenue Department is racing against the clock to complete the survey for acquiring land for widening the Thuravoor-Oachira stretch of National Highway (NH) 66 in the district.
All procedures related to acquiring land should be completed before February 15, 2019 for issuing 3D notification (declaration of acquisition).
Otherwise, the 3A notification would become invalid. Officials said that the process got delayed after the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) took time, more than expected, to complete the laying of alignment stones.
Deadlines missed
“After missing several deadlines, the NHAI has almost completed laying of alignment stones except in a few places. The land survey is a time-consuming effort as the land to be acquired is spread over several survey numbers and the initial delay has affected the progress,” an official with the Revenue Department told The Hindu.
According to officials, of the total 81.6 km stretch, the survey has been completed in around 25 km so far. “We need to complete the process by January 15, 2019 for the government to issue 3D notification on time. So far, the survey in 16 km of the total 19.8 km has been completed in Cherthala taluk. We have appointed additional surveyors and are expect to complete the process in Cherthala by December 31. In Ambalappuzha and Karthikappally taluks, the survey has been completed only in 6 km and 2.5 km respectively. ,” the official added.
Officials said that if the process could not be completed in entirety, they would still submit report based on the survey done. “In that case, the government can issue 3D notification for survey numbers where the process is completed. However, 3A notification will have to be issued again for rest of the survey numbers, which will result in further delay in acquisition of land,” said an official.
As per the notification, 126.6 hectares of government and private land would be acquired for NH development in the district.
Four lanes
The plan is to widen the 81.6-km stretch of the NH into four lanes of 45 metres. A special unit has been entrusted with the land acquisition.