What is the issue?
- The proposed Greenfield highway between Chennai and Salem has run into opposition from various farmer organisations.
- This is the latest in a series of protests against major projects in Tamil Nadu that include Kudankulam power plant and the Tuticorin copper plant.
What is the project about?
- Proposal - The proposed eight lane road is estimated to cost is Rs 9,106 crore, with a tentative Rs 415 crore for rehabilitation of the displaced people.
- It will run 277 Km and is slated to pass through Kancheepuram, Tiruvannamalai, Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri districts.
- The region is mostly agrarian with a few industrial zones and most of the land proposed to be usurped is fertile agricultural fields.
- Why - There are three existing but twisty road routes between Chennai and Salem, two of which are already heavily trafficked, leading to abnormal delays.
- Hence, Tamil Nadu CM Mr. Palaniswami is said to have written to the centre, suggested a highway that directly links the two cities and reduce fuel costs.
- A subsequent feasibility report noted that the project is expected to generate development and employment in the towns along the route.
- Hence, considering the business potential and other benefits, the centre is said to have approved the proposal and called it “Green Express Way Corridor”.
- Notably, government’s feasibility report states that extensive public consultations were done and suggestions were also invited in the design stage.
Why are farmer organisations protesting?
- Contrary to the government’s claim, many farmer organisations claim that they were not consulted in finalising the project.
- Farmer leaders have asserted that these regions do three crops a year and destroying these highly fertile lands for a highway cannot be accepted.
- Also, the state that government’s promised maximum compensation in some regions is more than 10 times lower than the prevailing market rate.
- It is being felt that the government is taking unusual interest in rushing a project that is likely t affect the livelihood of over 1 lakh people.
- The protesters have planned multiple peaceful demonstrations against the project in stages.
How has the government responded?
- The revenue department is engaging retired officers to complete the survey and kick off the project due to staff shortage in its ranks.
- Police have been arresting protest leaders, including Salem-based activist Piyush Manush and Valarmathi.
- Sources say at least 10 people are in judicial custody for mobilising people, and protest participants across villages are also being arrested.
What is the stand of the opposition DMK?
- Opposition leader M K Stalin has said that his party will launch strong protests if the government tries to implement projects using police and force.
- DMK has also moved a petition before the vigilance and anti-corruption wing, alleging that the CM has made malicious gains through the project’s tender.
- The allegation is that contracts running into crores of rupees were given to people closely related to the CM’s family at inflated costs.
Source: Indian Express
