What land is being acquired and where
The land is required for a railway project of Rail Vikas Nigam in Cuddalore District. The acquisition falls in two taluks, Titagudi and Vridhachalam.
In all, 7 survey numbers across 2 villages are covered by the notifications on record. Four survey numbers are in Kollathangkurichi and three are in Vayalur.
The acquisition is being made under the Tamil Nadu Acquisition of Land for Industrial Purposes Act, 1997, and not under the National Highways Act or the 2013 central Act.
The notices and their stage
Two notifications have been issued under the 1997 Act, both published in the State Gazette. The first is dated 10 November 2017 and covers one village. The second is dated 13 November 2017 and covers the other village.
The notification of 10 November 2017 was corrected by a later notice. Anyone checking land in that notification should read it together with the correction, since the correction may change survey numbers, extents or other details.
Neither notification has been withdrawn, in whole or in part, as per the records available.
Under the 1997 Act, the Government publishes a notice under section 3(1) stating that the land is required for the stated purpose. Under the scheme of the Act, once that notice is published the land vests in the Government free from encumbrances. Compensation is then determined under the Act and paid to the persons found entitled to it.
The records here do not show whether compensation has been determined or paid for any particular survey number. That has to be confirmed with the office handling the acquisition.
Villages covered
Kollathangkurichi, Titagudi taluk, Cuddalore District: 4 survey numbers. No withdrawal recorded.
Vayalur, Vridhachalam taluk, Cuddalore District: 3 survey numbers. No withdrawal recorded.
These are the only villages in the notifications on record for this project.
What to do if your land is listed
First, get the Gazette notification for your village and check the survey number and subdivision exactly against your patta and title deeds. If your land is in Kollathangkurichi or Vayalur, also check the correction notice for the November 2017 notification.
Second, find out the extent notified. Often only part of a survey number is acquired, and the remaining portion stays with the owner.
Third, approach the District Collector's office at Cuddalore or the Special Tahsildar (Land Acquisition) handling this project. Ask whether an award has been passed for your survey number, what amount was fixed, and whether it has been paid or deposited.
If you are buying land in these villages, ask the seller for a written confirmation of whether the property falls in the notified survey numbers, and check the revenue records. Land that has vested in the Government cannot be validly sold by the former owner, and a buyer does not acquire a right to compensation merely by buying it after the notice.