‘Take action against dist officials for oral orders on expressway’

Gram sabha meetings in 20 villages were postponed as the residents refused to participate in them if the officials deny to pass the resolution against the project. However, in other villages officials left in a huff after protestors opposed the postponement in passing the resolution.

Speaking to DT Next, the Green Corridor Opposition Federation Chief Coordinator, S Abiraman stated that the they have already filed a petition demanding action against Collector KS Kandasamy, who issued the oral orders. They also demanded action against BDOs in the district for obeying his order. “We are planning to hold a protest against this unilateral and arbitrary action at Thurinjapuram in Tiruvannamalai taluk soon.”

“As the surveying of land for the proposed project is over, revenue officials are now preparing the field map manually. Then, the map will be computerised to show the area to be acquired for the project,” he added. 

When asked about the HC order against dispossession of farmers’ land, Abiraman stated that the order is based on the nearly 40 cases filed by individual farmers more than 45 days ago and it is not of much use to the affected.

Meanwhile, Collector Kandasamy said it was planned to discuss objections raised by the farmers within a week under section 31 C of the National Highways Land Acquisition Act. Only after completion of this process, the relevant notification on exactly how much land would be requisitioned from each farmer will be issued. 

Recently, Chengam police arrested 14 farmers for opposing the project while the others farmers went hiding.