Sri Vijaya Puram, June 10: A resident of Wandoor Ward No. 4 has alleged that excavation work was carried out on and around his private property without his informed consent, resulting in damage to a fishpond, betel nut trees and portions of his land.
According to the resident, the incident occurred while he was admitted to a hospital. He claimed that upon returning home the following day, he was approached by a contractor who informed him that work was being undertaken for the construction of an uphill access road. The contractor allegedly assured him that the proposed activity would not cause any damage to his property and only sought permission to pass through the area.
The resident stated that he agreed to the request after receiving assurances that no harm would be caused to his land. However, he alleges that soon after granting permission, heavy machinery and bulldozers were deployed in the area and excavation was carried out on an adjoining portion of his property.
He claimed that a fish pond (diggi) containing fish was completely buried under excavated soil during the operation. In addition, several betel nut (supari) trees were allegedly damaged or cut down as the earthwork progressed.
The resident further alleged that when he questioned those carrying out the work about the damage caused to his property, he did not receive any satisfactory explanation.
According to his account, the excavation was reportedly linked to a proposed water tank project and the construction of an access road intended to improve connectivity and water supply for residents living in higher areas of the locality. While acknowledging the importance of public development works, the resident maintained that he was never opposed to the project itself.
Instead, he contended that the issue stemmed from the absence of prior notice, formal consent procedures or discussions regarding compensation before excavation activities commenced.
The resident stated that had he been informed in advance, he could have taken steps to minimise losses by relocating fish from the pond and harvesting betel nuts from the trees before they were affected.
He also raised concerns about the aftermath of the excavation. According to the allegations, a drainage channel was created near his bathroom area following the soil-cutting work. As a result, mud and rainwater reportedly flow towards his house during heavy rainfall, causing inconvenience to his family.
Another concern highlighted by the resident is that the work allegedly remains incomplete. He claimed that after the initial excavation and land cutting activities, no significant construction work has taken place at the site.
The resident further alleged that when he attempted to obtain information regarding the project, he was unable to find details relating to the approved project cost, tender process or any formal permission obtained for the use of private land.
The allegations have raised questions regarding project implementation procedures, land-use permissions and safeguards for private property during the execution of public infrastructure works.
The Wave Andaman was unable to independently verify the allegations at the time of publication. The matter is likely to attract attention from local authorities as the resident seeks clarification regarding the circumstances under which the excavation was undertaken and the damage allegedly caused to his property.
