Ramanathapuram farmers demand market-rate compensation for highway land acquisition

A large number of Ramanathapuram district farmers here on Monday submitted a petition to Collector Simranjeet Singh Kahlon during the public grievance redress meeting demanding that compensation for lands and houses acquired for the four-lane highway and road expansion should be provided at the open market value. 

Balasundaramurthi, president of Ramanathapuram Big Tank Irrigation Farmers’ Association, said, “Land has been acquired for the four-lane highway between Paramakudi and Ramanathapuram on the Madurai-Dhanushkodi National Highway.” 

In this, farmers are greatly affected because compensation for land and houses is being provided with discrepancies and at reduced rates, without following the guidelines set by the Supreme Court, he alleged.  

“Due to this, a thousand acres of agricultural land and more than 100 houses are affected in areas, including Ariyanendal, Manjur, Achunthanvayal, Muthunaal, Nochivayal, Soorangottai, Idaiyarvalasai, Kalathavur, Peravur, Pappakudi, Maadakkottan, Kazhugoorani, Kaattoorani, Kuyavankudi, Sathakkonvalasai, and Uchippuli,” he pointed out.  

However, compensation for the acquired land is being provided now, after a lapse of six years, without being paid properly.  

“That amount also differs from one person to another. Moreover, as the valuation of the land and the valuation of the houses are assessed and paid at rates lower than the open market, the farmers and house owners are severely affected,” the petitioners claimed.  

The district administration should take action to determine and provide compensation equivalent to the open market price without discrimination, in accordance with the agricultural lands, houses, and plots, they demanded.