After Salem expressway, ryots oppose Karur-Kovai highway

“Similar to the Chennai-Salem project, this road runs through thousands of acres of farmland. The six-lane greenfield corridor road either cuts through lush coconut and plantain farms or affects open wells, deep wells and farmhouses. A large number of farmers would be affected by this project,” said S Palanisamy, president of Tamil Nadu Farmers Association, Coimbatore district.

A group of farmers, apprehensive of the proposed project, voiced their opposition during the farmer’s grievance day meet on Friday.

“For the project, the government has already completed a satellite survey and has begun making markings along some road stretches. Protests will gather pace once boundary stones are placed and when the acquisition process begins,” he added. The farmers alleged that there was neither any public meeting nor compensation package announced for the Coimbatore-Karur project, which runs through districts, including Erode and Tirupur. About 2,957 acres of land are likely to be acquired for the project.