more-in The State government has got the sanction for acquiring 1.343 hectares of land needed for the flyover at Sreekaryam that is part of the proposed Light Metro project. Land could be acquired for the Light Metro too, a seven-member expert committee, headed by former Professor of Sociology, University of Kerala, P.K. Bhaskaran Nair, which is tasked with the evaluation of the Social Impact Assessment (SIA) study report, has recommended. The SIA study was carried out by the Centre for Advanced Research in Health and Human Behaviour (CARB). The report was submitted to the district administration after holding a public hearing on March 10. The committee has supported the findings of the SIA study that the flyover is indispensable to solve the traffic congestion at the Sreekaryam junction. The committee, which visited the junction, found that even a four-lane road will not solve its traffic problems. “There is no alternative to the land identified for the flyover. The land acquisition for the flyover is minimum,” the evaluation report has said. For minimal impact The expert committee, however, asked the government to accord top priority to rehabilitate those being displaced as part of the acquisition, relocate the market near the Sreekaryam junction to a convenient place, and use modern technology to reduce the impact on houses and building while demolishing structures partially. Compensation Immediate disbursal of compensation and counselling for the displaced were recommended by the committee. The government has been asked to make space available for displaced traders to continue their business by constructing a commercial complex. A lenient view should be adopted in the case of those who had taken loans from the banks. L. Thara Bhai, former Professor, Department of Sociology, Madurai Kamaraj University; S. Indukaladharan and S. Sambhudevan Nair, both former Deputy Collectors; V.S. Lathakumari and K.S. Sheela, both councillors; and Anand Elamon, Chief General Manager, Kerala Rapid Transit Corporation Limited; were the members of the expert committee. Official sources told The Hindu that the district administration would soon submit the evaluation report to the government. SIA study The SIA study, mandated by the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, had found that 76.27% of land belong to one owner, 21.46% under joint ownership, and 3% fall in the ambit of a trust, religious groups or community. Of the 280 buildings on the land to be acquired from Cheruvakkal, Pangappara and Uloor villages, 269 are of permanent nature and demolishing them will cause significant financial loss to the owners. The physical demarcation of the land was completed by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) which prepared the design for the 480-m four-lane flyover. The government also gave approval to the Revenue Department for negotiated purchase of land, and funds for flyover is to be to be made available from KIIFB.

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