SEBI A. L. Vs. STATE OF KERALA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioners, who are residents of Chennur Village of Kadamakkudy Panchayat, seek to direct respondents 3 to 6 to reconsider the current alignment of the bridge which causes extreme inconvenience to the lives and livelihood of the natives of that area.

(2.) The petitioners are residents of Chennur Village. Kothad is an island near Chennur surrounded by Periyar river. For the residents of Kothad, in order to reach Chennur, they can use surface transport through Varapuzha Church road. It is a longer route and extremely time consuming. The authorities decided to construct Kothad - Chennur bridge. A survey was conducted many years ago and an alignment was finalised. The approach road and bridge were to pass over the existing PWD road and no land acquisition was required.

(3.) However, the authorities conducted a further survey and decided that the proposed road alignment will not be connected to the PWD road. As per the new alignment, the land of the petitioners was to be acquired. The petitioners state that they had already surrendered 4 metres from both sides of the road to develop the Ferry road. The present rearrangement would force demolition of many houses and shops.