Appeals against outside interference
Staff Reporter
DIMAPUR, MAY 13 (NPN): In a significant development that could pave the way for the long-pending upgradation of Dimapur Railway Station into a World Class Railway Station, Railway Affected Landowners’ Association (RALOA) Wednesday expressed optimism that the protracted land issue was nearing settlement and appealed to organisations not to interfere in the matter.
The assurance came during RALOA’s sixth general body meeting held at Hotel Saramati, where members deliberated extensively on the land dispute that has stalled the proposed railway station project for years.
Addressing media after the meeting, RALOA president Khekaho Assumi acknowledged that the land issue had delayed the project, but maintained that the association was keen on ensuring that the upgradation proceeds without further delay. He said an early settlement would benefit both the public and landowners.
Assumi revealed that RALOA had met chief minister Neiphiu Rio in January, during which the chief minister reportedly assured support if no illegality was involved. Following the meeting, he said the state Cabinet constituted a High-Powered Committee (HPC) to examine the issue, while the matter was also extensively discussed during the Assembly session.
He informed that the issue had now reached Delhi and urged the state government to actively pursue the matter with the Centre for an early settlement.
On compensation, Assumi maintained that landowners should be compensated for both land and structures, citing provisions under the Railways Act, which, according to him, provided compensation up to four times the land value in rural areas and twice the value in urban areas. However, he said RALOA was willing to adopt a reasonable and negotiated approach in determining compensation rates.
“The sooner we settle, the better,” he said, while reiterating the association’s readiness to arrive at an amicable solution.
Providing details of the disputed area, Assumi said the issue mainly involved Blocks 6 and 7, covering around 205 pattas shortlisted from 397 pattas submitted to the association for verification. He claimed that many residents had been living in the area for decades, some for over 60 years, and that pattas had been issued without objections from authorities, including the Railways.
Referring to recent remarks made by Naga Council Dimapur (NCD), Assumi said RALOA was open to engagement but could not accept positions denying land compensation or referring to Dimapur as “no man’s land”. He maintained that discussions with NCD were not feasible on those points and urged organisations to refrain from interfering in what he described as a matter between landowners and the concerned authorities.
Outlining the next course of action, Assumi informed that RALOA representatives would travel to Delhi between May 15 and 20 to meet the Union Railway Minister and press for an early resolution.
Meanwhile, RALOA chief advisor S. Hukavi Zhimomi said the meeting was convened in light of the “unpleasant atmosphere” allegedly created by recent statements of NCD.
While asserting that RALOA held no enmity towards any civil society organisation, he criticised NCD’s remarks, particularly the claim that Dimapur was “no man’s land”, stating that the land rightfully belonged to the people of Dimapur.
He maintained that compensation was a standard practice across the country for developmental projects and should be extended to landowners without interference from external bodies. “Landowners have the Right to Property and should be allowed to negotiate directly with the implementing agency without interference from outside forces,” he stated.
He also cautioned that involvement of multiple organisations could dilute the issue and create confusion.
Raising concerns over railway claims, Zhimomi alleged that information sought through RTI did not yield proper documentation from the Railways and claimed that the department relied on a “sketch map” not issued by the state government.
“They do not have proper land records. It is an imaginary sketch map,” he alleged, adding that the Railways were, in fact, encroaching on land belonging to local residents.
Zhimomi further pointed out that pattas had been issued over the years without objections and invoked Article 371A, asserting that the constitutional provision protecting Naga land rights must not be infringed.
Reaffirming RALOA’s stand, he said the association was willing to part with land for development of the railway station project, provided fair compensation was paid for both land and structures. “What is due to us, we will not leave,” he asserted.
On engagement with NCD, Zhimomi said the council could act as a pressure group but should refrain from interfering in the issue. “It is our business. It is not their business,” he said, while appealing to stakeholders not to confuse the public and allow the matter to be resolved either amicably or through the court without outside interference.