Around 613 acres of land has been earmarked in the year 2010 for the expansion project of Coimbatore Airport. The Landowners and farmers around the annexing areas from whom the land had to be acquired are on a spree of protests against acquisitions.
The government had agreed to amicably settle with the land owners and since then the authorities have been actively involved in acquiring lands around Upplilipalayam, Kalapatti, Singanallur and Irugur.
The land owners have been urging that the government should fairly compensate them according to the existing Market values and not on the guideline values.
The owners took the issue judicially and got orders for the Court to settle them with Rs. 2000 per Sq/ft and also to build free houses for people who's lands are with houses.
But recently, a few of the owners have received a notice from the Corporation apprising that they would be compensated only at Rs.100 per Sq/ft. Hence, the agitated owners have approached the Collectorate to file their grievances to ensure fair settlement for the acquisitions. On failing to compensate them Rs.2000 per Sq/ft they are left with no other option other than committing suicide they grieved.
They also questioned that 'Why is that the settlement rates are in accordance with the '2011 Land acquisition act' instead of using the latest act which proposes higher and fairer compensation rates'.