NH 544 bypass land acquisition: Residents to protest seeking compensation

Kochi: A coalition of landowners from 18 villages, under the banner of Angamaly Kundannoor Bypass Action Council Central Committee (AKBACCC), will conduct a protest at the collectorate at 10am on Tuesday. The affected villages, which include over 2,000 families, face land acquisition for the Angamaly—Kundannoor NH 544 Bypass construction.

According to action council officials, MP Benny Behanan will inaugurate the protest. The protest will be attended by various political representatives, including MPs, MLAs, district officials, block representatives, panchayat presidents, members, and political leaders from the affected villages.

"We are concerned about whether those losing land and buildings for the highway will receive fair compensation. The acquisition and other benefits should be determined according to the 2017 LARR Act," said Saji Kudiyirippil, general convenor of the action council.

The protesters have demanded that NHAI provide all compensations and resettlement benefits under the 2013 LARR Act without considering the building age. Additionally, they are seeking compensation for the remaining unused land, citing the challenges in the use and sale of the residual land.

"Our only demand is fair compensation," said Kudiyirippil. He emphasised that the new bypass construction should preserve existing canals, streams, and drainage channels used for irrigation and rainwater flow. Additionally, he stressed the necessity of access provision from service roads to railway overbridges and bridges over the rivers.