Normally, property owners are made to do the rounds of the Revenue department offices to get compensation for their lands, if they are acquired for a public purpose. Many a time, it is a prolonged struggle for people to get their legitimate payment as there is usually a mismatch between the government’s offer and the market value of property. However, the situation is quite the opposite in Srikakulam district as far as the National Highway expansion work from Pydibhimavaram to Narasannapeta is concerned.
Here the government officials are going in search of property owners, in order to locate them and complete the payment of compensation. Out of ₹112.37 crore, officials could pay about ₹98 crore only. The balance ₹14.37 crore is due to the owners of plots in places like Etcherla, SM Puram, Chilakapalem, Garikapalem, Ranasthalam and Ravivalasa. However, the officials of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Srikakulam revenue administration are unable to locate the owners of these properties in various layouts ‘developed’ all along the NH.
The government pays around ₹10 lakh per 100 square yards of land and many property owners are likely to get huge amounts as compensation.
Plots change hands
According to sources, the layout developers are unable to provide information about the present owners due to multiple resale transactions of the plots in the last one decade. Many owners have reportedly settled down in Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Hyderabad and other places, and some even abroad.
The revenue officials have now sought help from the Stamps and Registrations Department for identifying owners for payment of compensation so as to avoid legal tangles in future.
“We are trying to collect phone numbers, email IDs and addresses of owners to pay the compensation as early as possible,” says Srikakulam Revenue Divisional Officer M.V. Ramana.
“We are not paying any money to persons who occupied government lands in spite of their claims. Absolute transparency is ensured in fixation and payment of compensation to owners after conducting a thorough inquiry,” he adds.