Nagaland: Workshop on land acquisition and BhoomiRashi portal

A field-level training workshop on “Land Acquisition for National Highways and Payment of Compensation through BhoomiRashi Portal” was organised by the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd. (NHIDCL), Regional Office Kohima, at Hotel Vivor on Wednesday.
The workshop was attended by around 75 participants, including officers from district administrations, State PWDs, NHIDCL and other departments involved in land acquisition. The programme aimed to build capacity and raise awareness among field-level officers on land acquisition procedures under Central and State laws, and the operational use of the BhoomiRashi portal.
Commissioner and Secretary, Works & Housing, Kesonyü Yhome, who graced the occasion as chief guest, stated that although Nagaland has not adopted the National Highways Act, 1956, there was “absolutely no difference” in the land acquisition process followed by the State. He highlighted the importance of due diligence, site inspections and verification at both district and State levels, and said the government was committed to improving transparency and reducing difficulties faced by landowners.
Referring to deliberations at the government level, he informed that the chief secretary, deputy chief minister and chief minister had jointly written to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), proposing that while procedures under the National Highways Act could be adopted, the quantum of compensation should follow provisions of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013. He added that the State had not yet received a response from MoRTH and believed the proposal was under examination. He clarified that policy matters were not the focus of the workshop but stressed the need for officers to understand acquisition processes thoroughly.
He also called for a common template for land acquisition across districts to ensure uniformity and transparency, expressing hope that the workshop would help identify a “halfway solution.”
Guest of honour, Commissioner and Secretary, Land Revenue, Dr. Zasekuolie Chüsi, said land acquisition in Nagaland was complex due to Article 371(A), under which land and its resources belong to the people. He explained that the State follows the Nagaland Land (Requisition & Acquisition) Act, 1965, acquiring land for lease to Central agencies for a maximum of 50 years.
Chüsi noted that Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh are the only states yet to adopt the NH Act, 1956, and highlighted the higher compensation provisions under the Central Act. He said the State was still examining the NH Act due to concerns over ownership transfer clauses that may conflict with Article 371(A). He noted that Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh remain the only two states yet to adopt the National Highways Act, 1956. Chüsi pointed out that compensation under the NH Act was considerably higher than under the State Act, with solatium fixed at 100 per cent under the Central Act compared to 15 per cent under the State Act. He further highlighted that the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 ensured fair compensation along with provisions for resettlement and rehabilitation.
Despite these advantages, Chüsi said the State government was still examining the adoption of the NH Act, citing concerns that clauses relating to land mutation and transfer of ownership in favour of the President of India or the concerned ministry could infringe upon Article 371(A).
He emphasised the importance of BhoomiRashi portal, describing it as a workflow-based automation tool that enhances transparency, efficiency and accountability in land acquisition. The portal, operational since April 1, 2018, enables faster e-transfer of compensation and reduces procedural errors.
Technical sessions were delivered by domain experts including Col. Rajendra Kumar Swain (MoRTH), Mohd Salman (MoRTH), and Ruhul Amin Choudhury (NHIDCL Mizoram), covering the NH Act, RFCTLARR Act, BhoomiRashi portal and practices in neighbouring states. Kevingoto Kulnu, Revenue Officer, DC Office Kohima, presented on the Nagaland Land (Requisition & Acquisition) Act, 1965 and other relevant State laws.
Earlier, NHIDCL Executive Director (Projects), R.P. Singh, delivered the welcome address, while Col. Swain introduced the NH Act and RFCTLARR Act.