What land is being acquired and where
The land is being acquired to widen the Tindivanam to Marakkanam Road, a State Highway numbered SH-134, into a four lane road.
All the land covered by the notices lies in Marakkanam taluk of Viluppuram district. In total, 122 survey numbers spread across 4 villages are listed.
The acquisition is under the Tamil Nadu Highways Act, 2001, a State law. It is not an acquisition under the National Highways Act, 1956, so the section 3A and section 3D procedure for national highways does not apply here.
The notices and their stage
Two notifications have been published in the Tamil Nadu Government Gazette. The first, dated 21 April 2023, covers 3 villages. The second, dated 15 June 2023, covers 1 village.
Under the Tamil Nadu Highways Act, 2001, the Government acquires land needed for a highway by publishing a notice in the Gazette that identifies the lands by village and survey number. Owners and persons interested in the land are given an opportunity to state their objections before the acquisition is finalised. Compensation is then determined under the Act.
As per the records available to us, neither notice has been withdrawn and neither has been corrected by a later notification. The records do not show the present stage of compensation or possession. For that, confirm with the Land Acquisition Officer for the project or the District Revenue Officer, Viluppuram.
Villages covered
Aalangkupam has the largest share, with 89 survey numbers listed.
Singananthal has 23 survey numbers listed.
Marakkanam (North) has 6 survey numbers listed.
Kanthadu (East) has 4 survey numbers listed.
All four villages are in Marakkanam taluk, Viluppuram district. No survey number in any of these villages has been recorded as withdrawn.
What to do if your land is listed
First, obtain a copy of the Gazette notification that covers your village and check whether your survey number and subdivision appear in the schedule. A survey number may be listed only in part, so note the extent shown against it.
Keep your title documents, patta, chitta and adangal ready, along with any encumbrance certificate. Compensation is paid to the person shown as entitled, so make sure your revenue records are in your name and up to date.
If you have an objection, or a claim for compensation, raise it in writing with the Land Acquisition Officer within the time stated in the notice, and keep proof of submission.
If you are buying land in these villages, check the survey number against both notifications before you pay any advance. Land covered by a highway acquisition notice cannot be bought free of that acquisition.