What land is being acquired and where
The acquisition is for widening the Chithode to Erode Road, a state road numbered SH-15. The land is needed for the road and is being taken by the State Government.
The notices cover 158 survey numbers spread over 5 villages. All of them are recorded in Erode district, in Erode taluk and Omalur taluk.
A notice lists survey numbers, and sometimes subdivisions. It does not always take the whole of a survey number. The extent actually taken from each field is shown in the schedule to the notice, so the schedule is what an owner must read.
The notices, the law and their stage
All three notices were issued under the Tamil Nadu Highways Act, 2001 and published in the State Gazette.
The first notification, dated 14 October 2020, covers 3 villages. The second, dated 31 October 2020, covers 1 village. The third, dated 11 December 2020, covers 1 village.
None of the three notices has been withdrawn, and none is recorded as corrected by a later notice. On the record available, all the listed land remains under acquisition.
Under the Highways Act, the Government acquires land needed for a highway by publishing a notice in the Gazette. Once that notice is published, the land listed in it generally vests in the Government free from encumbrances. This is different from the National Highways procedure, and no National Highways Act notices are involved in this project.
Compensation under the Act is determined by the authority appointed for the purpose after the notice. Owners and other interested persons are called upon to state their interest and claims. These records do not show compensation amounts, award dates or physical progress on the road. Confirm those at the office of the land acquisition officer for the highway project or at the Erode Collectorate.
Villages covered
Periyasemur, Erode taluk: 72 survey numbers. This village has the largest share of the land under acquisition.
Erode A, Erode taluk: 33 survey numbers.
Suriyampalayam, Erode taluk: 23 survey numbers.
Gangapuram, Omalur taluk: 23 survey numbers.
Kumilam Parappu, Erode taluk: 7 survey numbers.
No survey numbers have been withdrawn in any of these villages. The record lists Gangapuram under Omalur taluk in Erode district. Check the taluk and district against your own patta, because the revenue office will search by those details.
What to do if your land is listed
Get a copy of the Gazette notification for your village and read the schedule. Match your survey number and subdivision exactly, and note the extent shown against it.
Compare that extent with your patta, chitta and adangal. If only part of your field is taken, the balance remains yours. Get the remaining extent reflected correctly in the revenue records once subdivision is done.
Keep your title deeds, encumbrance certificate and patta ready. Respond to any notice calling for claims within the time it gives. File your claim for compensation with documents showing your interest.
If you are buying land in these villages, check the survey number against all three notifications before you pay any advance. Land listed in a Highways Act notice generally vests in the Government on publication, so a seller cannot pass good title to the acquired portion. Ask for a written statement from the seller and confirm with the Taluk office.