Despite pressures to pay compensation of about 20 to 25 crores
for the 75 acres of land to be acquired for setting up the Sree Chitra Thirunal
Institute of Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST) at Wayanad, the
government at last decides to give Rs 1.9 crore as compensation for the value
of improvements/structures the lessee had done in the said land.
The Wayanad district collector had reported to the government
that a compensation of Rs 1.9 crore could be given to the lessee for the
structures/improvements he had done in the said land at Mananthawadi. The
revenue department had forwarded the proposal to the Health department, which
has been entrusted to pay the compensation.
The compensation was fixed after the government resumed 75 acres
of land in Mananthwadi. In the order that was issued in August, it has been
clearly stated that the lessee M/s Glen Leven Estate was not entitled for the
value of the land as the jenmom right was vested with the government. However,
the lessee is entitled only for the value of improvements/structures it had
done in the said land. Moreover, the land was declared
as excess land by the Taluk land Board.
Before the government came up with an order to resume the land,
there was much pressure for giving compensation for the 75 acres of land. Even
the Advocate General had in his legal opinion favoured compensation to the
estate owners. The Express had then exposed the move with the Opposition Leader
V S Achuthanandan taking up the issue. The State Land Board and the Revenue
Department had come out against providing compensation. The land Board in its
report had said that the 75 acres of land to be acquired came under exempted
category and was ''controlled land'' for which no compensation need be given.
Source: The New Indian Express
