What land is being acquired and where
The land is required for the New Railway Line from Tindivanam at Melmavilangai and Salavathi. All of it lies in Viluppuram district, spread over two taluks, Gingee and Tindivanam.
In total, 273 survey numbers in 4 villages are covered. Servilagam has the largest share with 162 survey numbers. Vallam has 55, Melmavilangai has 49 and Salavathi has 7.
The acquisition is being carried out under the Tamil Nadu Acquisition of Land for Industrial Purposes Act, 1997. It is not proceeding under the National Highways Act, so there are no section 3A or section 3D notices for this project.
The notices and their stage
Three notifications have been issued under the 1997 Act, all published in the State Gazette. The first is dated 19 June 2019 and covers 2 villages. The second is dated 26 June 2019 and covers 1 village. The third is dated 1 June 2020 and covers 1 village.
The notification of 26 June 2019 was corrected later. If your land falls under that notification, read the correction together with the original, because survey numbers, extents or other details may have changed.
Under this Act, the key step is a notice under section 3(1). By that notice the Government declares that it requires the land for the stated purpose and acquires it. Before such a notice is published, the owner and other interested persons are to be given an opportunity to show cause against the acquisition.
On the record available, none of the three notices has been fully withdrawn and none of the 4 villages shows withdrawn survey numbers. The facts available do not show the stage of compensation awards or possession, so this must be confirmed with the authorities.
Villages covered
Gingee taluk: Servilagam (162 survey numbers) and Vallam (55 survey numbers).
Tindivanam taluk: Melmavilangai (49 survey numbers) and Salavathi (7 survey numbers).
These 4 villages are the complete list for this project. No other village is covered by these notices.
What to do if your land is listed
First, obtain a copy of the Gazette notification for your village. Check your survey number and subdivision number, and the extent shown against it. Remember that a notice may cover only part of a survey number.
If your land is under the notification of 26 June 2019, also obtain the later correction and check the corrected details.
Keep your title papers ready: sale deeds, patta, chitta, adangal and an up to date encumbrance certificate. Compensation is paid to the persons shown to be entitled, so mismatches between your records and the notice should be raised with the Revenue authorities early.
Compensation is determined under the 1997 Act by the officer authorised by the Government, and an owner who disputes the amount may use the remedy the Act provides. For the current status and any award, contact the Special Tahsildar (Land Acquisition) or the Collectorate at Viluppuram, or the Taluk office at Gingee or Tindivanam.
If you are buying land in any of these 4 villages, check the survey number against all three notifications before you pay any advance. Land that is notified for acquisition should not be bought on the assumption that the acquisition will lapse.