Land Owners’ Co-ordination Committee on National Highways-2, stretching from 105km to 220km comprising two districts (Mokokchung and Zunheboto) has appealed to the state government to fix the rates of land for compensation under the National Highways Act, of 1956 and RFCTLARR Act, of 2013.
In a memorandum addressed to the commissioner and secretary, works & housing, (NH-2) LOU Mokokchung president Chubasenba and LOU NH-2, VK range, Zunheboto chairman Kiyeto Yeptho stated that landowners/farmers were not at all averse to the construction of the National Highways. However, the signatories said there were “deeply disturbing and serious social and legal lapses and irregularity” in the acquisition of land, which required immediate rectifications at all level to expedite the completion of the National Highways of West-East Corridor.
LoUs of NH-2 stated that the road stretch from 105km to 220km was purportedly acquired for the expansion of road. However, they said construction commenced without land compensation.
The unions said when the poor and ignorant farmers inquired about the land compensation, they were informed by the authority that there was no land compensation in the construction of National highways. Further, LOUs said that when the landowners/farmers demanded gazette notifications of land acquisition, claims & objections, detail project reports and land survey documents etc, they were informed that those copies were not available. In this regard, the unions questioned how could land be acquired without all those exercises mandated by law. “All these are to be carried out, and only thereafter land should be vested with the State,” the signatories asserted.
They said that carrying out construction without observing procedures was a matter of deep concern. In the light of the above, the LOUs demanded that rates of land be fixed for compensation and fixation of rates be made with the landowners by the concerned authority.
LOUs also demanded that necessary deeds of conveyance be executed to keep the records clear.
Further, they demanded that all the necessary gazette notifications be furnished to the concerned village councils.
LOUs demanded that a detailed project report be made to keep the records straight and clear. They also stated that the concerned authority along with landowners jointly conduct a survey of the acquired land.
