What land is being acquired and where
The project is a bypass on a state road at Andipalayam and Reddipatty, in Namakkal district. Because it is a state road and not a national highway, the acquisition is being carried out under the Tamil Nadu Highways Act, 2001, and the notices appear in the Tamil Nadu Government Gazette.
The notices cover 7 survey numbers in total, spread over 2 villages in 2 taluks. Andipalayam in Tiruchengode taluk accounts for 6 survey numbers. Reddipatty in Sendamangalam taluk accounts for 1 survey number.
A survey number appearing in a notice does not always mean the whole survey number is being taken. Often only a part, identified by subdivision and extent, is notified. You should read the schedule in the gazette notice itself to see the exact extent shown against your land.
The notices and their stage
Two notifications have been published under the Tamil Nadu Highways Act, 2001. The first is dated 5 May 2023 and the second is dated 25 September 2023. Each covers 1 village.
Under section 15(1) of the Act, the State Government may acquire land needed for a highway by publishing a notice in the Tamil Nadu Government Gazette. The Act requires that owners and persons interested be given an opportunity to show cause before the notice is published. Once the notice is published, the land generally vests in the Government free from encumbrances.
As per the records available, neither notification has been withdrawn and neither has been corrected later. This tells you the acquisition notices are in force. It does not tell you whether compensation has been determined or paid, or whether possession has been taken. Those facts must be confirmed from the land acquisition office.
Under this Act, compensation is determined by the authority appointed for the purpose, on the basis of the principles set out in the Act. If an owner does not accept the amount determined, the Act provides a route to have it reviewed. No compensation figures for this project are stated here, and you should not rely on figures quoted informally.
Villages covered
Andipalayam, Tiruchengode taluk, Namakkal district: 6 survey numbers notified, none withdrawn.
Reddipatty, Sendamangalam taluk, Namakkal district: 1 survey number notified, none withdrawn.
These are the only 2 villages covered by the notices for this project. No other villages are recorded.
What to do if your land is listed
First, obtain a copy of the gazette notification that covers your village and check the schedule. Match the survey number, subdivision and extent against your patta, chitta and the FMB sketch from the taluk office.
If you are an owner, keep your title documents, patta, encumbrance certificate and tax receipts ready. These will be needed when compensation is processed. If the extent shown is wrong or the owner details are outdated, raise it in writing with the land acquisition officer and keep an acknowledgement.
If you are a buyer, do not purchase land in Andipalayam or Reddipatty without checking whether the survey number, or any part of it, appears in these notices. Land that has vested in the Government cannot be validly sold by the earlier owner, and the right to compensation for it may be disputed.
For the current stage of compensation and possession, contact the land acquisition office for the bypass or the Tahsildar of Tiruchengode or Sendamangalam taluk, as the case may be.