Right from the beginning, the National Highway department has been going slow on paying compensation to land owners. With the High Court ordering clearance of dues at revised rates to the landowners, the department has not paid the compensation amount so far.
The local highway department officials say that they have sent details of the revised compensation package to the ministry for approval. In 2020, when the list was ready the compensation to be disbursed was Rs 485 crore but now following the court direction the compensation amount to be disbursed has been put at Rs 1216 crore for which a revised list of beneficiaries is being prepared.
The High Court had ordered release of compensation amount to the affected landowners of Saanooru Padumaarnadu and Puttige villages about three months ago. But local officials say that they are yet to receive the amount from the Centre, members of the samithi said.
Over a month ago, the deputy commissioner had also ordered release of the revised compensation package to the villagers of Tenka Mijaru, Tenka Yedapadavi, Badaga Yedapadavu, Tenka Ulipadi, Thiruvailu and Kudupu. Though the officials and the elected representatives say that there is no shortage of funds or a fund crunch to award the compensation, the reason for not releasing the amount remains a mystery, says Narasimha Kamath, an executive committee member of Saanooru village.
Due to the monsoon season, work is likely to be affected for another three or four months although work in some places has been going on at a brisk pace. As the landowners are not getting the compensation amount, they are not willing to give up their land holding. Public are being inconvenienced in places where work is progressing at a snail's pace.