State government initiates meetings with stakeholders on land acquisition for shipyard project in Thoothukudi

Following administrative sanction for the proposed shipyard project in Thoothukudi a few months ago, the Tamil Nadu Government has held meetings with salt pan owners and labourers regarding acquisition of land.

A senior district revenue official said that 1,660 acres of government poramboke land and 40 acres of patta land in the revenue villages of Mullakadu (1), Mullakadu (2) and Pazhayakayal had been identified for the project. Of the 750 acres of poramboke land, 450 acres had been leased out to Tuticorin Alkali Chemicals and Fertilizers, a sister concern of SPIC, Thoothukudi, and 300 acres for salt pans operated by Kovalam Thanpaadu Uppu Urpathiyalar Sangam and Ponmadasamy matrum 107 Nabargal . Over 150 acres of the 300 acres of land came under the category of water course poramboke land.