Govt., Opposition spar in Kerala Assembly over SilverLine project

The concrete markers laid by the government to indicate Silverline’s alignment had frozen up large swathes of land, says Congress.

The State government and the Opposition sparred in the Assembly on Thursday, December 8, 2022, over the future of thousands of residents adversely impacted by Kerala’s proposed 540 km long semi-high-speed railway project, Silverline.

Seeking an adjournment debate on the subject, Congress legislator Reji. M. John said the concrete markers laid by the government to indicate Silverline’s alignment had frozen up large swathes of land.

He said residents could not sell or mortgage their property to meet domestic exigencies such as medical bills, wedding expenses, education fees and business requirements.

Mr. John said banks were unwilling to extend housing loans. There is a building ban on the 10-m buffer zone on either side of the proposed line.

He termed Silverline an unrealistic and stillborn project that has left thousands of residents in the lurch and steeped them in misery and uncertainty.

Mr. John demanded the government free up an estimated 1,221 hectares of privately owned earmarked for the scheme.

The administration should immediately withdraw the contentious notification issued under section 41 of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act (LARR). It should also withdraw cases registered against anti-Silverline protestors.