Date:09/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/09/stories/2008110956560100.htm

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Land acquisition hits tsunami permanent houses project

Shyam Ranganathan

No word from Salt Department to give its land at Akkaraipettai

Plan to build 100 more houses through the Tamil Nadu Slum Control Board
The two-acre plot was acquired by the Salt Department in 1992

NAGAPPATTINAM: Nearly 100 permanent houses for tsunami victims at Akkaraipettai are on hold because of problems with land acquisition, say officials.

The district administration has not been able to acquire two acres of land belonging to the Salt Department, which resulted in slowing down of the already delayed process. “We have built 196 two-storey houses for the Akkaraipettai fishermen and are planning to build 100 more through the Tamil Nadu Slum Control Board, but the Salt Department has been dragging its feet for three years now,” an official says.

The two-acre and 175-sq.ft. plot was acquired by the Salt Department in 1992 at a cost of Rs.1.69 per sq. ft. from the Fumigation Department. However, when the district administration offered Rs.39 a few years ago, the offer was not accepted. (The land is now leased to the Postal Department, the official said.) Subsequently, the offer was revised to Rs.250 per sq. ft., but still the Salt Department has not responded, according to the official.

Collector M. Jayaraman said that acquiring the plot would be useful as the houses would all be contiguous and close to the sea for the fishermen.

He also plans to complete the first phase of tsunami rehabilitation by March 2009 and wants these houses to be ready soon.

However, with the Salt Department dragging its feet for nearly three years now, it is not clear whether the houses can be constructed any time. Already price escalation is affecting builders, the official says, adding that a speedy resolution of the issue would be desirable.