Civil society organisations (CSOs) of Peren town and Peren Village Council have clarified that while it was not their intention to inconvenience the commuters of NH-129A by blocking the Package-1 (Peren town portion) stretch from July 31, they had been compelled to do so to express their resentment against the lackadaisical attitude of National Highways & Infrastructure Development Cooperation Ltd (NHIDCL) towards the legitimate rights of the stakeholders.
They explained that their protest was solely directed towards NHIDCL and should not be construed otherwise. While major portion of works on NH-129A Package-1 was being completed, the reluctance of NHIDCL to construct the national highway as per original detailed project report (DPR) and contract agreement for the stretch measuring 2.8 km was baffling to say the least, they added.
When the initial survey for construction of NH-129 was undertaken sometime in 2018, the CSOs claimed that landowner village had submitted a proposal to NHIDCL to construct the road bypassing the main town. However, it was turned down on the ground that the road should be constructed within the scope of existing alignment. They said they welcomed the decision and gracefully issued NOC for the whole stretch of road without even claiming land compensation as they wanted a good and sustainable road.
Noting that DPR, land acquisition plan (LAP), markings for right of way (RoW) and all other required technical matters/survey were carried out under the direction and supervision of NHIDCL, they claimed that there was never a question or adverse report on technical infeasibility in the town portion. The first structural damage assessment was carried out in 2020 without any objection on technical feasibility.
However, it was observed that the assessment amount was on the higher side, therefore a second assessment was necessitated. But this second assessment was done with a reduced RoW, which was against the DPR and contract agreement and without proper consultation with stakeholders which led to uproar in town. A third assessment was again carried out but no sanction was accorded and the issue was kept pending.
Therefore, the CSOs maintained that they had to seek the intervention of chief minister Neiphiu Rio and then UDA chairman TR Zeliang to help redress the grievances. A series of correspondences were exchanged between the chief minister and Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways Nitin Gadkari and NHIDCL managing director, before Gadkari finally communicating to Rio on June 6, 2022 to acquire 18-metre RoW in Peren town portion and hand over the RoW encumbrance free within 30 days.
Accordingly, a fourth damage assessment was carried out and forwarded to the state government. And after scrutiny, the state government accepted the report of Damage Assessment Committee and forwarded the same to NHIDCL for sanction. But an apparent negative report by then NHIDCL executive director MS Deol led to unwanted apprehension for sanction of the damage compensation amount. And thereafter NHIDCL, rather than accepting the report of the state government and honouring the direction of the Union Minister, carried out a technical feasibility survey that was not required at that point of time.
Director (technical) from headquarters was deputed to visit the site and carry out technical feasibility. This officer apparently gave a flying visit to Peren town on November 24, 2022 without the knowledge of district administration. However, having known that he was to visit the town, the public of Peren waited to meet and brief him about the situation.
But, the director (technical) did not bother to step down from his car and apparently ‘surveyed/verified’ the site from the comfort of his car. And not long after the visit, the CSOs said they were made to understand that the director has submitted a blanket report stating that 2.8-km stretch was technically unviable and would have a huge collateral damage. This one flying visit and report of the director has been used as a point of reference by NHIDCL to deny the people of Peren its due development as per DPR and contract agreement.
The CSOs and land owners therefore reiterated that NHIDCL should keep its word for construction of the road within the specified RoW and that the question of an alternate route to bypass the town should not be considered now. They declared that the stakeholders were willing to part their land free of cost and even to let their properties be damaged without any objection for the sake of greater good of the people for a good and sustainable road. And not to mention the mental and emotional difficulties that the people undergo, every single time, the damage assessment committee takes up assessment for RoW.
They hoped that NHIDCL would finally hear and listen to the woes of the people and resolve the issue at the earliest to avoid any further complications. They assured of continuing to give their unflinching support to the state government, NHIDCL and contractor for development of the town, but appealed that the work be executed as per the direction of Gadkari for built-up area of 2.5 km (Peren town portion) and 300 metre (Peren Kipeuzang).
They declared that they would not accept anything less of this and would firmly stand their ground for justice and intensify their agitation if the situation so warranted. This was stated in press release by Joint Action Committee, NH-129A (Peren Town Portion).