Land acquisition for industrial park near Coimbatore: DRO assumes office

COIMBATORE: The Tamil Nadu government has appointed a district revenue officer (DRO) for land acquisition to set up an Industrial Park near Annur in Coimbatore district. The officer, Meenakshi Sundaram, took charge at the collectorate a few days ago.
The government is also planning to appoint 15 tahsildars and other officials to acquire land.
Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO) planned to acquire 3731.6 acres of land in Akkaraisengapalli, Kuppanur, Pogalur and Vadakkalur in Annur taluk and Iluppanatham and Bellepalayam villages in Mettupalayam taluk to set up the industrial park. Farmers from the locality protested against the government’s move to acquire land and they demanded that the government withdraw a GO it had issued to acquire land.
In December 2022, the DMK deputed its party deputy general secretary A Raja to defuse tension among farmers over land acquisition for the industrial park. He met the farmers in Annur and promised them that the government would not acquire agricultural land for the industrial park. He added that industries that would not pollute groundwater, air and lands would be set up in the industrial park.
The state industries department announced that Raja had requested the government to avoid the acquisition of agricultural land in Annur and Mettupalayam taluks. After considering his demand and farmers' demands, the state government decided to acquire 1,630 acres of land belonging to private firms to set up an industrial park. The government will give good compensation to the farmers who are voluntarily giving their land for the project. The state government was taking steps to set up an industrial park in private firms’ land, officials said.