Thiruvananthapuram: While the expert appraisal committee (EAC) has deferred the proposal to amend the environmental clearance (EC) for the proposed Vizhinjam port rail connectivity through an underground tunnel, the social impact assessment (SIA) report prepared ahead of land acquisition shows that owners of the land spread over 138 survey numbers will be affected by the proposed project. According to the report, nearly 500 trees have been identified as productive assets in the project area. The land being acquired serves as a primary source of livelihood for around 273 people.
Citing the land constraints and requirements of additional resettlement and rehabilitation, the project proponent had planned to reroute the rail line beneath the land surface through a tunnel. The proposed alignment has a total length of 10.70 km of which the underground/tunnel route extends to 9.43 km. With the proposed rail connectivity mode having been changed from surface to underground/tunnel, an amendment to the environmental clearance was sought.
The report notes that implementation of the project will affect many commercial, industrial and residential buildings and cause displacement of people. Many will lose their livelihood.
However, it also observed that many of the negative impacts highlighted can be minimized or reduced with effective and relevant mitigation measures and strategies.
An extent of 5.602 hectares of land spread over Balaramapuram and Pallichal village of Neyyattinkara taluk needs to be acquired for the construction of rail connectivity from Vizhinjam International Seaport to Balaramapuram railway station. Most of the land is used for residential purposes, commercial and industrial purposes. It is understood from the field survey that the families using the land for agriculture purposes will lose their income.
With the acquisition of the land, 77 land owners with land used for residential purposes will be directly affected. Several industrial or commercial buildings will also be affected, the report notes.
SIA report also describes the alternatives which were considered. For the proposed rail connectivity of Vizhinjam, the nearest stations are Nemom, Balaramapuram, and Neyyattinkara on the Thiruvananthapuram- Nagercoil section of the southern railway.
Due to land restrictions and the need for additional resettlement and rehabilitation, rail connection from Neyyattinkara was not recommended, according to earlier studies (R&R). Moreover, four temples are also located in this route. The feasibility studies were also done in connection with Nemom and Balaramapuram stations. Four different potential routes were also investigated. Balaramapuram station has been chosen as the starting point for the proposed rail link after considering other options, the report says.
Citing the land constraints and requirements of additional resettlement and rehabilitation, the project proponent had planned to reroute the rail line beneath the land surface through a tunnel. The proposed alignment has a total length of 10.70 km of which the underground/tunnel route extends to 9.43 km. With the proposed rail connectivity mode having been changed from surface to underground/tunnel, an amendment to the environmental clearance was sought.
The report notes that implementation of the project will affect many commercial, industrial and residential buildings and cause displacement of people. Many will lose their livelihood.
However, it also observed that many of the negative impacts highlighted can be minimized or reduced with effective and relevant mitigation measures and strategies.
An extent of 5.602 hectares of land spread over Balaramapuram and Pallichal village of Neyyattinkara taluk needs to be acquired for the construction of rail connectivity from Vizhinjam International Seaport to Balaramapuram railway station. Most of the land is used for residential purposes, commercial and industrial purposes. It is understood from the field survey that the families using the land for agriculture purposes will lose their income.
With the acquisition of the land, 77 land owners with land used for residential purposes will be directly affected. Several industrial or commercial buildings will also be affected, the report notes.
SIA report also describes the alternatives which were considered. For the proposed rail connectivity of Vizhinjam, the nearest stations are Nemom, Balaramapuram, and Neyyattinkara on the Thiruvananthapuram- Nagercoil section of the southern railway.
Due to land restrictions and the need for additional resettlement and rehabilitation, rail connection from Neyyattinkara was not recommended, according to earlier studies (R&R). Moreover, four temples are also located in this route. The feasibility studies were also done in connection with Nemom and Balaramapuram stations. Four different potential routes were also investigated. Balaramapuram station has been chosen as the starting point for the proposed rail link after considering other options, the report says.
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