A consultative meeting held at Peren town on January 17 has urged commissioner of Nagaland to nullify/invalidate the revised compensation details submitted to him by Peren deputy commissioner (DC) on January 13, and called for issuing directive to review compensation for damages to standing structures considering 18-20 metres as width for the upcoming national highway (NH)-129A Package 1A.
In a representation to the commissioner on behalf of residents of Peren town, consultative meeting’s session chairman Pingkam Namdau alleged that Peren district administration in connivance with few public leaders of the town had taken biased, unjust and arbitrary decision in formulating revised compensation details, which was then forwarded to the commissioner counter-signed by Peren DC, PWD (housing) SDO and Peren Town Ward Chairmen Union president.
Pointing out that the revised compensation details were assessed considering a width of 2-lane NH at 12-14 metre, instead of 18-20 metre, he further alleged that this was done without consulting the stakeholders concerned and has deeply hurt the sentiments of people as it not only deprived the compensation rights of several landowners but also downgraded the anticipated 2-lane NH to an ordinary single-lane road.
The representation clarified that neither Peren Town Ward Chairmen Union nor any CSO or CBO had given consent or approval for assessment of damage compensation to standing structures considering 12-14 metre as the width.
In the event of demand of landowners beyond the specified entitlement, the memorandum stated that Peren district administration was responsible for negotiating the rate of compensation as per norms/guidelines, instead of compromising the specification of the road.
Earlier, the consultative meeting held at GB Hall, Peren town on January 17 to deliberate on matters pertaining to construction of NH-129A (Package 1A) 2-lane from Peren to Dimapur resolved that the construction must take place as per specification in detailed project report (DPR) approved by the union ministry of road transport & highways (MoRTH) and demanded that compensation for damage to standing structures must be assessed considering 18-20 metre as the width of the NH.
The meeting also resolved to endorse and support the memorandum of Zeliangrong Baudi Nagaland and Zeme Council Nagaland to commissioner of Nagaland on January 15, 2020 that cited grievances caused to the public due to alteration made to NH-129A Package 1A.
Terming the revised compensation details submitted to the commissioner, Nagaland by Peren DC as biased, unjust and arbitrary, the meeting demanded that this must be nullified at the earliest, while entrusting session chairman Pingkam Namdau to submit a representation to the authority concerned on behalf of the general public of Peren town and pursue all other matters with the government for resolution of the matter at an early date.
And following the consultative meeting, a representation was submitted to the commissioner, Nagaland through Peren DCon Tuesday, Namdau said.