What land is being acquired and where
The Cheyyur Ultra Mega Power Project is a power project. The land notified for it lies in Chengalpattu and Kancheepuram districts, within Cheyyur and Cheyyar taluks.
In all, 649 survey numbers have been notified across 6 village entries. Most of the land is in Cheyyur taluk. One village, Gengadevan Kuppam, is recorded under Cheyyar taluk.
The notifications were published in the Tamil Nadu state gazette. Two laws are used: the Tamil Nadu Acquisition of Land for Industrial Purposes Act, 1997 and the Land Acquisition Act, 1894.
The notices and their stage
There are 14 notifications. The first is dated 30 August 2011 and the latest is dated 27 May 2013. Each one covers either one or two villages.
All but one of the notifications were issued under the Tamil Nadu Acquisition of Land for Industrial Purposes Act, 1997. Under that Act, the Government issues a notice under section 3(1) stating its decision to acquire the specified land for an industrial purpose. The Act then provides further steps, including the taking over of the land and the determination of compensation.
One notification, dated 16 September 2011, was issued under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. Under that older Act, the Collector held an inquiry, heard claims and passed an award fixing compensation.
The records show no notice as fully withdrawn and no notice as corrected later. The gazette entries do not by themselves show whether awards have been passed, compensation paid or possession taken. That must be checked with the land acquisition office.
Villages covered by the Cheyyur Ultra Mega Power Project acquisition
Vilangadu, Cheyyur taluk, Kancheepuram district: 250 survey numbers.
Chitharkadu, Cheyyur taluk, Chengalpattu district: 192 survey numbers.
Panaiyur, Cheyyur taluk, Chengalpattu district: 106 survey numbers.
Vedal, Cheyyur taluk, Chengalpattu district: 66 survey numbers.
Gengadevan Kuppam, Cheyyar taluk, Kancheepuram district: 23 survey numbers.
Villangadu, Cheyyur taluk, Kancheepuram district: 12 survey numbers.
Vilangadu and Villangadu appear as separate entries in the gazette records. They may be spelling variants of the same village. If your land is in either, check both entries.
What to do if your land is listed
First, confirm the survey number and subdivision. Match your patta, chitta and adangal against the schedule printed in the gazette notification for your village. A matching survey number does not always mean the whole field is affected. The notice may cover only part of a subdivision.
Next, visit the Special Tahsildar or District Revenue Officer handling land acquisition at the Collectorate in your district. Ask whether an award has been passed for your survey number, the compensation fixed, whether it has been paid or deposited, and whether possession has been taken.
If you are a buyer, do not rely on the seller's assurance or on a clean encumbrance certificate alone. An acquisition notice may not appear in the encumbrance certificate. Ask for written confirmation from the land acquisition office before you pay any advance.
If you have a dispute about title, area or compensation, keep copies of all notices and receipts, and take advice from a lawyer who handles land acquisition matters.