The Chakhesang Pubic Organisation (CPO) committee on 2-Lane Road has petitioned Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari regarding non-compliance with a Gauhati High Court Kohima Bench order of January 30, 2023.
In the petition, CPO committee convener Vaprumu Demo, and members Zhovehu Lohe and Besupra Swuro said they had filed a PIL in 2019 on behalf of landowners whose lands/properties were damaged during execution of two-laning of Chakhabama-Zunheboto Road and Pfutsero-Phek Road under SARDP-NE (Phase A) in the state.
They mentioned that they had sought court intervention for compensation for the damaged caused as per the assessment done jointly by state authorities, aggrieved members and local administrative bodies.
The high court then passed a ruling on January 30 in favour of their PIL, giving specific direction that “The whole exercise (i.e. compensation payment) should be completed within a reasonable time but not beyond 6(six) months from the date of this Judgment and Order.”
Thereafter, after three months of complete silence, they said they had taken up the matter with the chief secretary, who immediately wrote to the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) on May 12, 2023.
Following this, some CPO members and PIL petitioners contacted the ministry on May 31, 2023 and apprised the authorities concerned about the 10-year-long grievances of the victims.
The committee alleged that, notwithstanding “reasonable time” given by the high court, the six-month period was disregarded and it had expired on July 30, 2023.
They said they were compelled to submit a representation to the state government on August 10, 2023, and another one on August 18, 2023 for delaying the process. They mentioned that the state government submitted the proposal to the ministry on the same day, though the matter was still pending.
The committee said they were disappointed to note that a welfare government led by BJP at the Centre and its alliance in the state were seemingly playing around with the long-felt suffering of thousands of poor victims whose permanent cultivation and habitation were permanently damaged, forcing many to migrate to urban areas for daily wages and livelihood, and whose children had abandoned schooling for years together.
Not having any other option, the committee on 2-lane road mentioned that they had already filed contempt of court. However, without moving the matter further, they hoped that Gadkari’s intervention even at this stage would certainly settle the pending matter without further delay, thereby avoiding the extremity of contempt.