Debangana Ray
Published on July 27, 2022 at 20:16 IST
The Kerala Government assured the Kerala High Court that any activity related to the ongoing SIA conducted in furtherance of its K-Rail project is being done only through the Geo-tagging facility and that no large survey stones are being used for demarcation.
Justice Devan Ramachandran while recording this undertaking clarified that this does not mean that the Court has neither permitted nor stopped the SIA in any manner.
The Court was adjudicating upon a batch of petitions assailing several steps initiated by the State to materialise the K-Rail Silver Line Project.
The Railway Board of the Union of India, through the Assistant Solicitor General of India, S. Manu, reiterated that they have neither approved nor concurred with the Social Impact Assessment (SIA), and the survey being down by the Kerala Government was under the provisions of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition Act.
As per the provisions, when a State is conducting an SIA, the Centre has no role in it. It is further submitted that, however, if Kerala Railway Development Corporation Ltd, being a company, is involved in the SIA and spending its funds for the purpose, such involvement and expenditure will be at its own risk and responsibility.
Special Government Pleader, Advocate T.B. Hood, requested for two weeks time to place on record the details regarding the SIA and assess the stage of survey at which they’re presently at.
However, Advocates Muhammed Shah and M.R. Rajesh appearing for the petitioners submitted that no further SIA could be taken forward since six month period has expired from the date on which the notifications for it were issued.
Thereby, at the request of the Special Government Pleader, the matter has been adjourned for 10th August, within which time SGP can file additional pleadings if required.