Legal Hurdle Stalls Ambitious Land Pooling Project in Tamil Nadu

C Shivakumar @ CHENNAI:
A pilot land pooling project under the AMRUT scheme, aimed at transforming the infrastructure and land use in three villages—Agaramthen, Madambakkam, and Kovilancheri—is facing a significant setback. The project, which covers 242.82 hectares at a cost exceeding Rs 700 crore, has hit a legal roadblock after the Madras High Court issued an interim order halting final approvals by the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA).

A bench of judges, led by D Krishnakumar and P B Balaji, has issued an interim stay preventing the CMDA from issuing any final orders regarding the scheme. However, the court clarified that the ongoing processes under the project may continue. This decision follows several petitions challenging the way the scheme is being implemented.

Local landowners have voiced strong objections, arguing that authorities proceeded with the project without obtaining the necessary consent from the landowners.Functions under the scheme are being carried out by third parties, bypassing direct engagement with the landowners’ concerns and approximately 40% of the land is being taken over by the CMDA without any consent or compensation, directly affecting the petitioners.

Since 80% of the notified area is currently used for agriculture, converting these lands to non-agricultural use could disrupt local livelihoods and contradict existing legal precedents, including decisions by the Supreme Court.

Notified in draft form on January 9, the scheme aims to pool irregularly shaped private and public lands that lack proper access and infrastructure. The plan is to reconstitute these lands into regularly shaped plots that offer improved road access, parks, playgrounds, and other public amenities. Under this reconstitution, landowners are expected to receive at least 60% of the total land area back, with an appreciated value.

The land is categorized into three zones ==== Agriculture Use Zonem Primary Residential Use Zone and Mixed Residential Use Zone. Originally planned six years ago, the project gained momentum when the Tamil Nadu government revamped the Town and Country Planning Act in 2018. Further reinforcing this initiative, new rules for the Land Pooling Area Development Scheme were notified in 2024. This project is seen as a crucial step toward resolving the chronic issue of land unavailability for development projects.

While the project promises a significant transformation in urban development and infrastructure, the legal challenges and concerns raised by landowners underscore the complexities of balancing development needs with individual land rights. As the judicial review continues, all eyes remain on whether a fair resolution can be reached that benefits both the community and the broader developmental agenda.