TN govt's decision to set up petrochemical park upheld

Chennai, Mar 03 (UNI) Madras High Court today upheld the Tamil Nadu Government's decision to set up a petrochemical park in 1997 and the resultant acquisition proceedings.

A Division Bench comprising Mr Justice P D Dinakaran and Mr Justice P P S Janarthana Raja upheld the move of the state government while dismissing a batch of petitions from M/S Ram Gopal Estate private limited and others.

The state government decided to set up a petrochemical park (PCP) in 1997 at a cost of Rs 30 crore over an extent of 7156 acre in four villages - Puzhithivakkam, Kattupalli, Kalangi and Voyallur near Ennore in Thiruvallur District, 35 km from Chennai.

The petitions included a Public Interest Litigation, challenging sanction to acquire land, violation of Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) and acquisition proceedings.

The government's decision to change the requisitioning agency from SIPCOT to TIDCO and to dispense with a public enquiry during acquisition were also challenged.

The petitioners said the move affected the livelihood of people and endangered the environment in the locality. The statutory right conferred on land owners to file objections to the acquisition was denied in an arbitrary and unjustified manner.

Additional Advocate General N Kannadasan said the major industrial project would provide direct employment opportunities to 10,000 engineers and technicians and indirect job opportunities to 25,000 others. Out of 7156 acre, 4302 acre of land belonged to the government. Of the land proposed to be acquired, 2542 acre was dry lands and only 311 acre wet lands. Only 585 families would be affected and they would be taken care of under the resettlement package. Environmental hazard would be minimised.

The bench said the acquisition was justified as only 311 acre was wet land and the government had already identified two sites for rehabilitation of affected families. The sites were 35 km from Chennai and well connected by road, rail, air and sea. Land of 1200 acre was reserved for a green belt and there was lot of scope for improving the quality of life of people in the area, the bench added.

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