Aryankavu residents evicted for railway gauge conversion

KOLLAM: The local residents of Aryankavu village here are at the receiving end with the eviction procedures initiated by the railway authorities as part of gauge conversion works along the Punalur-Edamon stretch. The villagers allege that several destitute families living on the land owned by the railways for the last several decades are ineligible for compensation as per a railway notification. Several families who face the threat of eviction have been living on the poramboke land (property not assessed in revenue records) adjacent to the railway track ever since the construction of meter gauge rail. These residents are now clueless about finding a new place to live.

The railway authorities have enlisted as many as 65 buildings including a veterinary hospital, cultural centre, and ICDS office functioning in the building owned by the Aryankavu panchayat for eviction. The panchayat had earlier procured a stay order from the High Court preventing demolition of buildings owned by the panchayat on the railway land. However, the panchayat has taken a stand to release the building to the railways in lieu of exempting the families from eviction. Despite protests, the railways has given time till Tuesday for the occupants to evacuate the place.

“Shops were demolished at Kazhuthurutty junction for constructing an approach road connecting the Ambanad road with the main road. After demolishing those, they resorted to turn towards the buildings adjacent, which is unnecessary and was prevented by the public. There are several alternatives but they are adamant on their stand. We will contact the Madhurai division after discussing the issue with the Railway Divisional Manager. They have already taken sufficient land and are now demanding more in the case of houses too,” Aryankavu panchayat president H. Abdul Kadar told this newspaper. The protesters also point out that the land evacuated by demolishing houses and shops until now would be sufficient to construct an approach road to the railway station there. The railways have acquired land they demanded in the first phase and is demanding more land as the second phase of eviction, they alleged.