Kochi: The Kochi Metro Rail Ltd has reiterated its stand on the Seematti issue and sent a fresh letter to collector M.G. Rajamanickam asking him to redraft the agreement with the textile shop. The KMRL rejected the collector's claims that clauses were discussed with it prior to signing the agreement.
According to KMRL, no meetings were held to discuss the controversial clauses such as Seematti's right for Rs 80 lakh a cent and restriction of using the acquired land for other purposes.
The row between KMRL and the collector over the acquisition of Seematti land started when KMRL sent a letter to the collector to redraft the agreement on February 4.
The collector sent a reply to KMRL on February 16 and stated that the agreement with Seematti was made following the norms and as per the legal opinion given by the district public prosecutor.
The collector had replied that before arriving at an agreement, all the clauses were discussed with KMRL. The KMRL sent a fresh reply on Saturday and made it clear that the arbitrary clauses which were brought in by the collector should be removed.
It urged the collector to follow the standard procedures followed in the cases of 400-odd other land owners whose land was acquired. According to KMRL, the clause ‘subject to the land owner’s right to get compensation at the rate of Rs 80 lakh per cent, this agreement is executed’ is arbitrary and against the interests of other land owners.
It stated that there is difference between right to claim Rs 80 lakh and right for Rs 80 lakh. Before a court of law legal right may stand in favour of the land owner, the letter said.
