Chennai: Over the past four years, the revenue department recovered 35,654 acres of encroached govt land, valued at 20,325 crore, like the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments department got back temple land, revenue administration and disaster management minister K K S S R Ramachandran told the assembly on Thursday.
However, he said, the railways did not provide funds for acquiring 943.91 hectares out of the requested 2,197.02 hectares, hindering acquisition. Of the rest, the state managed to acquire 1,144.84 hectares for railway projects. The funding shortfall affects three projects — Tiruvannamalai-Tindivanam new broad-gauge line, Tuticorin-Madurai via Aruppukottai new broad gauge line phase II, and Gati Shakti Multimodal cargo terminal. Fund allocation is pending for these projects despite administrative approval.
“We are speeding up land acquisition for the railway and highway projects. They (railways) give orders for this town and that town. Fund is needed if land is to be acquired. We acquire land for those projects for which funds are received,” Ramachandran said.
State govt established monitoring committees at the divisional, district, and state levels for eviction of encroachments from water bodies and other govt land. This single-point system aims to improve efficiency in reclaiming encroached land.
Ramachandran said the govt is working to repurpose reclaimed land from Madras Race Club, Agri-Horticultural Society, and Ooty Racecourse for public benefit.
The state had handed over land for expansion of Madurai and Tuticorin airports. “About 460 acres out of identified 468 acres for Coimbatore airport expansion, have also been handed over,” the minister said.
The revenue department is currently acquiring 50,015 acres under several laws, including the Industrial Purposes Act, for various projects across the state.