CHENNAI: THE Airport Authority of India (AAI) has been restrained by the Madras HC from proceeding with construction of a compound wall on the land leased out to it by private owners in Coimbatore district.
Vacation judge M M Sundresh, who granted the injunction last week, directed the AAI to maintain status quo, and ordered notice to it and the Collector of Coimbatore, returnable in eight weeks.
The judge was entertaining a batch of 12 petitions, including one from 82 year-old D Ammani, to restrain AAI from constructing the compound wall till the settlement of their dues of lease amount and the compensation for their land from the date of acquisition proceedings is determined. Land measuring over 100 acres was leased out to AAI by different owners in Singanallur, Kalapatti, Uppilipalayam and Irugur villages to the AAI.
The petitioners submitted that as per the agreement, the AAI has to pay lease amount as per the guideline value and despite repeated representations, it did not do so. They were made to run from pillar and even representations made to the PMO and Union Ministry of Civil Aviation went in vain.
While so, the AAI started constructing the compound wall. Hence, the petitions from land owners, also for a direction to fix the compensation at the rate of `8 lakh per cent or to return lands to the owners.