Landowners of Kottukal, Kanjiramkulam, Thirupuram, Chenkal and Karode villages along the upcoming Kazhakuttam-Karode National Highway 66 bypass are planning an indefinite stir from February 26 demanding enhanced compensation for the land surrendered.
The Vengapotta-based Kazhakuttam-Karode Bypass Action Council will launch the agitation with a march and dharna in front of the zonal office of the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) at Palkulangara here in support of their demands. CPI(M) legislator K. Ansalan will inaugurate the dharna in the presence of the patron of council, Jameela Prakasham.
The agitation is against the NHAI’s move to appeal against the decision of the arbitrator and District Collector to give an enhanced compensation to 88 persons who surrendered their land and buildings on the Kottukal-Karode stretch of the 43-km bypass.
Arbitrator’s decision
The NHAI has pointed out that the order of Collector K. Vasuki to give 50% more compensation and 9% interest from the date of notification of land acquisition is in violation of the National Highways Act 1956 and Arbitration and Conciliation Act 1996.
The NHAI did not oppose the 15% hike in the compensation and 9% interest announced by the previous arbitrator and District Collector N. Venkatesapathy. The NHAI had transferred ₹7.33 crore from the centralised account of the Competent Authority for Land Acquisition .
Landowners’ argument
V. Sudhakaran, chairman of the action council, said in a statement that the NHAI was dragging to court the 1,400 persons who surrendered their land for the bypass. The earlier price fixed for the land along with the enhanced compensation declared by the Collector is on par with the price fixed by the District Purchase Committee, which was approved by the NHAI, he pointed out.
Mr. Sudhakaran alleged that the project director was harassing the landowners and demanded that the NHAI withdraw the cases filed against the landowners in the court.
The landowners have the right for enhanced compensation as it is for public purpose, he said, pointing out that the NHAI authorities are ignoring
The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.
As many as 1,769 persons had surrendered land for the stretch from Mukkola to Karode. The arbitrator was appointed following a 15-day stir by the council in May 2017 demanding higher compensation.