Perumanna: A controversy has surfaced regarding the land prices associated with the acquisition for the construction of the Palakkad-Kozhikode Greenfield national highway in the district. A committee, including the deputy collector and sub-collector, has presented a report to the district collector on this issue. The NHAI contends that the land prices are far too high.

Earlier, the National Highway Project Director had submitted a complaint to the arbitration that the land values fixed by the Competent Authority of Land Acquisition were exorbitant. 

The estimated value for the lands being taken up in the Perumanna and Olavanna villages limits set by the Competent Authority of Land Acquisition is Rs 629 crores.

The acquired lands will be used for construction of a 6.6 kilometre long national highway and a trumpet junction. The NHAI had sanctioned Rs 313 crores each in two phases for the purpose. 

The concerned officials had started distributing the compensations as well. It is amidst these developments that NHAI noticed that the compensations for Greenfield highway were 1.5 times higher than those distributed for the construction of NH-66. The findings forced the highway authority to stall the disbursal of compensations.

Meanwhile, a people’s action committee is preparing to launch widespread protests against the discontinuation of distribution of compensation. A road blockade and dharna will be staged in Perumanna on December 27 against the decision. Action committee chairman KT Moosa said that “people will protest in large numbers against the injustice.”