‘Expressway can wipe T’malai’s backward tag’

Speaking to DT Next, Tiruvannamalai Collector KS Kandasamy said, “People are connecting the Sterlite issue and the green corridor project, however, there is nothing common between the two initiatives. The green corridor will help the district attract cement, silicon, glass, ceramic and aluminum industries and help remove its ‘backward’ tag.”

The proposed 277-km project will be built at Rs 10,000 crore. Kandasamy said, “Contrary to the social media campaigns that 1,305 hectares (ha) will be acquired for the project, only 860 ha will be taken in Tiruvannamalai, including 155 ha of government poromboke land, 100 ha wet land and 605 ha dry land.”

Kandasamy further said that steps have been taken to ensure no outsider interference in the project. While opposition for the project is mainly in Salem, Kandasamy said, dry land farmers welcomed it as they were assured of a land price which would be double or triple the present value.

On whether the compensation would be based on market or guideline value, officials said the value would be the same for both, for dry and wet land in Tiruvannamalai. Not many were willing to register their land based on the guideline value here, they added. Referring to reports stating that the mineral-rich Kavuthimalai would be affected by the project, Kandasamy said the corridor would pass 10 km away from the hill and therefore would not affect it.