Latest news with #RighttoFairCompensationandTransparencyinLandAcquisition
Hindustan Times
17 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Chandigarh: Rail under bridge at Raipur Kalan back on track
After eight years of delay, the long-pending rail under bridge (RUB) project on the Chandigarh-Ambala railway line at Raipur Kalan has taken a significant step forward. The Chandigarh administration has issued a formal notification for the acquisition of 0.74 acre of land in Raipur Kalan, following the Punjab government's approval to acquire land on its side (HT) The UT administration has issued a formal notification for the acquisition of 0.74 acre of land in Raipur Kalan, following the Punjab government's approval to acquire land on its side. The project, originally proposed in 2017, is aimed at providing relief to residents of Harmilap Nagar, Baltana and nearby areas, who face daily traffic snarls and long waits at the frequently closed railway crossing. However, it remained stuck for nearly a decade due to delays in the land acquisition process. Officials confirmed that the UT administration had issued the notification under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013. A Social Impact Assessment (SIA) study has already been conducted, which concluded that while no displacement is anticipated, two families from Raipur Kalan village will lose portions of their agricultural land. In a related development, the sub-divisional magistrate (Central) has been appointed as the administrator for rehabilitation and resettlement of the project. The daily ordeal of motorists has been a major concern in the area, as they are forced to wait in long queues at the level crossing, even after the train has passed. The RUB is expected to significantly ease this problem. Usha Rani, municipal councillor from Harmilap Nagar, criticised the prolonged delay, stating, 'The Detailed Project Report (DPR) was prepared back in 2017. The UT administration had assured that the land acquisition will be completed by January and construction by April this year, but nothing moved on the ground. It's a long-pending demand of the residents, and now, finally, it seems the project will move ahead.'
The Hindu
4 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
Families at Ayyankuzhi refuse to move back to their houses, seek permanent solution to pollution
The families that were evacuated from Ayyankuzhi near Ambalamugal after a section of 220kV electric cables passing through the Bharat Petroleum Limited-Kochi Refinery (BPCL-KR) campus in their neighbourhood went up in flames generating thick plumes of smoke and a pungent odour that left them dizzy and nauseated on Tuesday (July 8, 2025) evening have declined to return to their homes unless a permanent solution is found to their long-standing complaint about industrial pollution. They were moved to temporary accommodation arranged by BPCL-KR at Chottanikkara, where they continued to stay for three days following the incident. 'Our question to the authorities is, what if a bigger accident takes place in the area, threatening our lives, and rescue is delayed due to the difficulty in accessing the locality, since there is only a single entry and exit? We have no plans to return to our homes unless we are guaranteed a permanent solution. We will launch a stir if efforts are made to move us back with force,' said Saji Kumar, an office-bearer of the Ayyankuzhi Janakeeya Samithi, which led the nearly five-month-long protest last year. Nearly 30 families remain sandwiched on a 9.4-acre strip between two major public sector units, Hindustan Organic Chemicals Limited (HOCL) and BPCL-KR, at Ayyankuzhi. The families have long demanded that their land also be acquired by BPCL-KR, citing pollution and claiming that the area is 'unfit for living'. They also referred to a Pollution Control Board study report that categorised the area as a 'red zone' to buttress their claims. However, BPCL-KR maintained that it does not share a boundary with the residential area, and that any acquisition must be approved by the State-level monitoring committee headed by the Chief Secretary, with a 'detailed feasibility study, complete plot plan, and approved budget.' The company also cited the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, which stipulates that acquired land must be used strictly for the intended purpose. 'If the acquired land is not utilised within five years, the government can take it back and return it to the eligible landowners or assign it to the land bank,' the company maintained.
The Hindu
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Time to halt forceful acquisition of land
For more than 1,100 days, farmers of 13 villages near Channarayapatna in Devanahalli taluk, Bengaluru Rural district, have been agitating against the 'forceful' acquisition of their land by the Karnataka government for industrial development. In 2022, the Basavaraj Bommai government notified 1,777 acres off land for a proposed hi-tech defence and aerospace park. This highly fertile region is the lifeline of Bengaluru's food and nutrition security. The farmers immediately took to the streets, demanding that the plan be dropped. They rejected offers of compensation and promises to drop part of the acquisition. The farmers say they want to continue farming and remain on their land that have sustained lives and livelihoods for generations. Their persistent struggle has not only brought them into national focus, but has also foregrounded the legitimacy of forcible land acquisition. Over the past month, this agitation has taken an intense turn. On June 25, a 'Devanahalli Chalo (let's go to Devanahalli)' programme was organised, and various farmer, trade union, Dalit, student, and women's organisations came together to show solidarity with the farmers. The use of police force in dispersing the protesters only intensified the agitation under the aegis of Samyukta Horata Karnataka. Facing intense pressure, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah called a meeting on July 4 and requested time to take a decision. He argued that there were legal hurdles in going back on land acquisition. This is an exercise in obfuscation since the power of the State government to withdraw from the land acquisition process is legally settled. Nevertheless, the farmers have heeded his request and are awaiting his decision. Before elaborating on this, it is necessary to mention that forcible acquisition, premised on the principle of eminent domain, is a colonial relic and has no place in a democracy. It is for this reason that informed consent found a place in the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013. However, despite this enactment, there are many State expropriation laws that remain on the statute books. These are used indiscriminately to acquire people's lands. Despite several demands, the Karnataka government has shown no inclination in scrapping these laws. The lands of the Devanahalli farmers have been acquired under one such law — the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Act, 1966. To date, lakhs of acres of agricultural land have been acquired under this statute for establishing industrial areas and for allotting them to individual companies. There is overwhelming evidence that acres of acquired land are lying waste. The Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India on the economic sector for the year ending March 2017 confirmed this. The disastrous nature of forcible acquisition stands exposed, yet the State government is yet to undertake a comprehensive review of the status of all acquired lands. The answer to the question of withdrawal from land acquisition proceedings can be found in the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Act. Section 4 allows the State government to exclude acquired land at any time it deems necessary. This flows from the settled legal position that the State can exercise its power of withdrawal from land acquisition unilaterally. Indeed, with regard to acquisition under the 1966 Act, the Karnataka High Court, in Thomas Patrao Since Deceased by his LR and Anr. vs. State of Karnataka, 2005, held that the State government can cancel land acquisition notifications before taking possession by virtue of its power under Section 21 of the Karnataka General Clauses Act, 1899. The unambiguous position is that the State government can withdraw the Devanahalli land from acquisition by cancelling the preliminary and final land acquisition notifications. Incidentally, this is a power that successive State governments have exercised. Acquisition of hundreds of acres of notified lands were withdrawn on various counts including farmers' resistance, so the Siddaramaiah government has no real reason to seek time. Instead, it must listen to the demand of the farmers and drop the land acquisition. Else, talk of democracy and social justice will remain hollow words. Clifton D' Rozario is a practicing advocate in the Karnataka High Court and the General Secretary of the All India Lawyers Association for Justice
Hindustan Times
7 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Bajwa demands extension of assembly session
Leader of Opposition in Punjab assembly, Partap Singh Bajwa on Tuesday wrote to speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan demanding the extension of the upcoming special session by two days, citing two pressing issues— deteriorating law and order in the state and the 'land pooling policy' announced by the AAP government. Leader of Opposition in Punjab assembly, Partap Singh Bajwa on Tuesday wrote to speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan demanding the extension of the upcoming special session by two days, citing two pressing issues— deteriorating law and order in the state and the 'land pooling policy' announced by the AAP government. The state government has convened a two-day session starting July 10. Referring to the 'land polling policy, Bajwa alleged that the Bhagwant Mann government attempts to bypass the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, which requires social impact assessments, landowner consent, and fair compensation. 'The very land that sustained Punjab through the Green Revolution is now under threat from (Arvind) Kejriwal's Delhi-based corporate cronies,' Bajwa alleged. The Punjab Cabinet last month gave its nod to the land pooling policy, while asserting that not even a single yard will be forcibly acquired from land owners. The Congress leader asserted that the letters of intent (LOIs) being given to farmers are vague, 'carry no legal or financial guarantees, and are part of a predatory design to dispossess farmers and enrich private players.' In his letter, Bajwa also cited the murder of Abohar businessman Sanjay Verma by three assailants on Monday. 'This is not merely a law and order issue. It is the collapse of civil society's safety net. Families fear stepping out, and business owners live under constant threat. Fear is replacing faith in governance,' Bajwa said.
The Hindu
05-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Survey of land for Sabarimala airport begins
The Revenue department has commenced a manual land survey for acquiring the land for the proposed Sabarimala Greenfield International airport in Erumely across the villages of Erumely South and Manimala. Officials said the first phase of the survey will focus on marking the boundaries as per the sketch prepared during a digital survey conducted earlier. Once this boundary marking is completed, each parcel of land slated for acquisition will be clearly demarcated according to its designated survey number. Alongside, the boundary-setting process for the runway has commenced at Charuveli in the Manimala grama panchayat. The demarcation process will subsequently extend to the Cheruvally estate and the populated areas of Erumely South village. Within four months After verifying the boundaries of the identified land, officials will prepare subdivision documents for each landowner involved in the project. If the weather is favourable, the survey process will be completed within four months, they added. The survey team is led by district surveyor Sreelekha, accompanied by five surveyors on contract. The government is likely to appoint two additional surveyors to assist with the project. While the government had proposed establishing a dedicated office in Kanjirappally to facilitate the land acquisition process, a final decision on this matter is still pending. As per the government order issued in accordance with the provisions of sub-section (1) of Section 11 of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, a total of 1,001.873 hectares (2,475.68 acres) is required to be acquired for the project in Erumely South and Manimala villages. However, the precise extent of land to be acquired for the project will only be determined, along with its survey numbers, upon completion of the physical survey process. Primary assessment As per the primary assessment, in addition to the 2,263-acre Cheruvally estate, an additional area of 307 acres located outside the estate will also need to be acquired for the project. STUP Consultants Ltd, appointed by the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC), is in the process of preparing the detailed project report (DPR) for the project. Once the DPR is completed and submitted to the KSIDC, it will be forwarded to the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation for further review.
