Why this Tamil Nadu village is protesting against Chennai-Salem expressway
Lush green coconut palms, a vast expanse of greenery and a fertile land with access to groundwater may be a dream for farmers and residents in other parts of Tamil Nadu. But for locals in Ramalingapuram, located 11km from Salem district, their village is a picture-perfect postcard. Soon, the proposed Chennai-Salem green corridor expressway is set to change the facade of this sleepy hamlet.
The 277.3km-long centrally-sponsored and funded project will cut travel time between Chennai and Salem by half and aims to connect the industrial and special economic zones (SEZ) along the route.
The proposed highway will be built by acquiring nearly 7,500 acres of land spread across the five districts of Salem, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, Tiruvannamalai and Kancheepuram. 40-year-old Sivagami vividly recalls her travails when the state government took away a portion of their house and agricultural land to expand the National Highway-68 in 2010.
It took her several visits to the collectorate to claim her compensation. With the proposed Chennai-Salem green corridor, it's a déjà vu moment for her and many others from the village.
"For a mere 50km, do they have to bring an end to the livelihoods of several people? Increase air service and rail services. There are many people who have farms and cattle. Where will their cattle go? How will we get our daily bread?" asks an angry Sivagami.
She also mentions that three routes already exist between the two cities, apart from air and rail connectivity.
46-year-old Jaivel too laments over the measly compensation he recieved during the expansion of NH-68. A portion of his newly constructed house was demolished at the time. He was given Rs 2 lakh less than the market value for acquisition. He applied for resurvey with the district collectorate and is still awaiting a call from the officials. Understandably, he is apprehensive of the new project. "There is no information from the government on this project. Why is the government hell-bent on building this project despite resistance?"
Farmers in Kuppanur, Kullampatti, Uthamacholapuram, Poolaveri, Nilavarapatti, Sarugamalai, Varagambadi, and Ramalingapuram are up in arms against the project fearing the loss of livelihood and threats to their ecosystem.
The proposed green corridor has sounded a death knell for the careers of the likes of Arun Kumar, a college graduate. He took up farming after he failed to get a decent job to suit his qualifications. His family owns four acres of land of which 2.5 acres are likely to be acquired for the project.
"Our land is the only right we have. How will we give it up? Agriculture gives me a steady income. I know many other youth like me who have taken up farming. What will we do if our lands are taken away?"
Environmental activists, farmers and political parties in the state are wary of the corridor as it cuts across agricultural fields and will cause irreversible damage to eight reserve forests.
Another protestor Kavitha's family members own 2.6 acres of farm land and are fourth-generation residents of Ramalingapuram. The proposed highway will render her family homeless. She has been having sleepless nights since the revenue department began survey work in the village on Monday. She argued with the officials as to why there was no prior information of the operation.
"They are talking about development, how will it be development after ruining farm lands? They never listen to people; take this to another district. Dont make us the guinea pig," she said.
A native of Salem district himself, chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami has drawn flak for going ahead with the project, blatantly ignoring the concerns of the locals. With protests gaining momentum, the state government swung into action by detaining farmers and villagers who spearheaded the agitation in respective areas.
The Salem city police have also arrested activist Piyush Manush and Valarmathy for "misleading the villagers" about the project.
Activists allege the state government arrests are a warning for them against taking up the cudgels. "Piyush questioned the expressway project. There is no transparency in the system. As citizens, we have the right to question the government. Charges against him are absurd and were made only to intimidate him and others who raise questions against the establishment," said the activist's sister Orvasi.