Kochi: The Kerala High Court has barred the laying of concrete boundary markers bearing the inscription K-Rail on private lands to be acquired for the SilverLine semi high-speed rail project.

The court was hearing a petition filed by Muralikrishnan of Kuzhimattom in Kottayam, Kurin T Kurian of Mamood in Changanassery and PA Johnykutty of Vakathanam in Changanassery, alleging that their private land was encroached upon unauthorisedly by the government and a concrete pillar inscribed with the name `K-Rail' was laid in the land.

While granting them interim relief, Single Bench Judge Justice Devan Ramachandran said that only the ongoing land survey as per the government notification could be continued. While concurring with the views of the petitioners, the court did not find favour with the laying of boundary stones.

The petitioners, who are the owners of the land through which the project passes, pointed out that the stones were laid on private land against the provisions of the Kerala Surveys and Boundaries Act. According to them, as per this Act, only survey proceedings can be conducted. They further said that the government was trying to usurp their land without issuing proper notification for its acquisition.

They alleged that the officials were terrorising and threatening them and then illegally trying to lay boundary stones on their plots with the help of a posse of police.

The petitioners will come up for the next hearing on January 12.

Kodiyeri's olive branch to landowners

Meanwhile, CPM State Secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan assured that the Left Democratic Front (LDF) Government would not make the landowners, who give up their land for the SilverLine project, suffer.

The project will be implemented only after taking them into confidence. He was airing the decision of the CPM to take utmost precaution following strong opposition put by landholders across the State against acquisition proceedings.

But Kodiyeri made it clear that the government would not surrender before the narrow-minded political opposition to the project. Such designs of the Opposition would be exposed before the public, Kodiyeri said, while briefing the media after the State secretariat meeting.

Rehabilitation of those who give up land for the project will be expedited. To a question, he said the government had taken into account the views expressed by the Kerala Sasthra Sahithya Parishad on the project. He claimed that the government had an open mind on the issue and was ready to look into the concerns raised by anyone.

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