A.S.VENKATACHALAMOORTHY, J.

The State of Tamilnadu in their Order Ms.No.1428/PWD dated 2.7.1983 accorded sanction for the acquisition of lands required for raising full reservoir level of Poondi Reservoir under Krishna Water Supply Project. Following that, the Executive Engineer, Public Works Department, Krishna Water Supply Project, Chepauk, Madras - 5, in his letter dated 30.1.1985 sent the requisition in the form prescribed for the acquisition of land measuring 49.61 acres of wet lands in Thomur village, Tiruvallur Taluk, Chengalpet District. Pursuant to that, a notification under Section 4(1) of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 for acquisition of wet lands for an extent of 48.83 acres in survey No.226/1/Part, etc., was approved in G.O.Ms.No.700/PWD, dated 13.5.1985 and duly published in the Government Gazette dated 29.5.1985. An enquiry under Section 5-A of the Land Acquisition Act was duly conducted, in which all the parties concerned participated. Finally, a draft declaration under Section 6 of the Act for the extent of 48.93 acres was approved by the Government by their order dated 31.10.1985, which was also duly published.

2. Admittedly, the lands comprised in sur