Date:26/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/26/stories/2008122658320300.htm

Tamil Nadu - Tiruchi

34 Myanmarese Tamils’ descendants in a fix

Staff Reporter

Government earmarks ‘their’ land for IT park project

Photo: R. Ashok

Seeking intervention: Myanmar refugees at the Tiruchi Collectorate seeking their land. —

TIRUCHI: Descendants of 34 Myanmarese Tamils who were given two acres each in Navalpattu Panchayat limits in the district for eking out a livelihood when they returned to India after independence have been left high and dry.

The 68 acres supposed to belong to them is now part of the land that the Government has earmarked to the Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu (ELCOT) for the IT Park here.

“ Our sustained representations over the past two decades for patta registration of the land have been brought to naught,” they lament.

They were told by the Revenue department last week that any attempt to retrieve the land would be futile. The officials also warned them of legal action if they prevent the ELCOT from developing the park. The affected say they have been left with no other option but to seek legal remedy. Despite possessing the allotment order, they could not complete patta registration. They felt threatened twice earlier; once when the land was considered for establishment of the Bharathidasan University, and for the second time when their holdings were identified for Medical College Hospital. The locations of both projects were changed subsequently.

“The Government could take over our property only because we had nurtured it so far despite the arid nature of the land. We deserve to be treated with humanity,” Anbalagan, an affected descendant , said.

Yet, the 34 families feel that the project should not be stopped. “What we look for is allotment of alternative location or monetary compensation,” said Mr. Anbalagan, referring to the allotment of land for many other families of Myanmar returnees in the neighbouring panchayats of Kumbakudi, Palaganankudi and Asoor.