KERALA (Metro Rail News): The state government formally postponed the social impact assessment (SIA) for the proposed SilverLine semi-high-speed railway project until it receives Railway Board permission. As a result, the revenue officers assigned to set the boundary stones will be called back.
Earlier, the administration claimed that laying boundary stones was a component of the SIA for land acquisition, which led to widespread protests across the state. For the project, 1,221 acres of property in 11 districts had to be purchased.
Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue) A Jayathilak has written to the Land Revenue Commissioner and collectors of 11 districts, asking them to recall the staff and submit proposals for their redeployment for specific projects.
Justice Devan Ramachandran said the petitioners need not have any apprehensions regarding the project as no new notification for SIA has been issued after the expiry of the last one, the DPR, and the Centre has not approved the land acquisition.
Therefore, no orders are required to be passed in the petitions in the present situation, he had said. However, the court said the petitioners could revive their pleas in case of any new development in connection with the project.
The districts of Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Kannur, and Kasaragod currently employ the recalled officers.
On September 26, the Kerala High Court dismissed various petitions contesting the social impact study and the laying of boundary stones, stating that the Center had not yet approved the semi-high-speed rail corridor’s detailed project report (DPR).
However, the state administration is still moving through with its large-scale initiative.
K N Balagopal, the finance minister, had recently discussed the matter with Nirmala Sitharaman, the union finance minister. At the pre-budget consultation, the state’s wish list was presented to the Union government, including the sanction for SilverLine.
