State government initiates meetings with stakeholders on land acquisition for shipyard project in Thoothukudi
Following administrative sanction for the proposed shipyard project in Thoothukudi a few months ago, the Tamil Nadu Government has held meetings with salt pan owners
Following administrative sanction for the proposed shipyard project in Thoothukudi a few months ago, the Tamil Nadu Government has held meetings with salt pan owners and labourers regarding acquisition of land. A senior district revenue official said that 1,660 acres of government poramboke land and 40 acres of patta land in the revenue villages of Mullakadu (1), Mullakadu (2) and Pazhayakayal had been identified for the project. Of the 750 acres of poramboke land, 450 acres had been leased out to Tuticorin Alkali Chemicals and Fertilizers, a sister concern of SPIC, Thoothukudi, and 300 acres for salt pans operated by Kovalam Thanpaadu Uppu Urpathiyalar Sangam and Ponmadasamy matrum 107 Nabargal. Over 150 acres of the 300 acres of land came under the category of water course poramboke land.
Since the lease period had expired, the government had ordered retrieval of the lands a few days ago. Subsequently, steps were taken and meetings were held with salt pan owners and labourers for land acquisition. According to the official, most of the labourers working in the salt pans were from revenue villages of Mullakadu (1), Mullakadu (2) and Korampallam (2). Their representatives were briefed about the project and the rehabilitation packages. Around 350 labourers would be affected due to land acquisition, impacting nearly 1,500 family members who depended on them for their livelihood. In order to compensate for the loss of employment, the rehabilitation package for the labourers included option of employment for one eligible member of each family in the industrial cluster, or financial support through a one-time lumpsum assistance, or long-term annuity as per beneficiary’s choice.
Other welfare measures, including financial assistance for self-employment through subsidised loan schemes, special support for differently abled persons and widows through commercial shop allotments and self-employment assistance, were also available, For salt pan owners, the government had identified around 700 acres of land at Vaippar. Their package included reconstitution of salt pan operations, development of essential infrastructure, including bunds, channels, access roads and other facilities, option of job for one eligible member of each family in the industrial cluster, or one time financial assistance, besides other assistance. The official said that following the completion of discussions with labourers and salt pan owners over the past two weeks, their concerns had been forwarded to the government. Meanwhile, for the fishermen the resettlement package included provision of housing site patta and government constructed pucca house, one-time resettlement assistance, monthly subsistence assistance for a specific period and other benefits.
The BriefWire