District Collector S. Shanavas has sought an explanation from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) authorities on why they have not allotted funds for the functioning of the office set up to acquire land for the development of NH-66.

Seven months

Land acquisition procedures have been disrupted since the NHAI has not given funds for payment of rent for the building and the vehicle for the past seven months, said the Collector. The wages of survey staff and data entry operators were also not paid.

The NHAI has to give ₹12.69 lakh for seven months. (Rent of the building is ₹2,89,370 and rent is ₹4,69,975).

The wage arrears for survey staff is ₹3,77,940 and that of data entry operators is ₹81,925. The charge for installing the software (₹50,000) and travel allowance were also not paid. The building owner has sent legal notice as rent has not been paid, he added.

NHAI version

The NHAI attributes the delay in fund payment to software error. As many as 204.7464 hectares of land in 62.655 km from Kadikkad in Chavakkad taluk to Methala in Kodungallur village has to be acquired for NH 66 development. “Land acquisition for the NH work in the district has been disrupted due to the non-cooperation of the NHAI,” the Collector said. The State government and the higher officials of the NHAI will be informed about the delay, he said.