Staff Reporter
In yet another setback to road developmental works, the Land Owners Coordination Committee (LOCC) Chumukedima sector (17.94km) Dimapur district has announced “no compensation, no road” on the ongoing construction of two-lane Peren-Dimapur section on NH-129 A.
In a representation addressed to the deputy commissioner (DC) Dimapur, the committee’s convener, Thepfülhouto Shüya, said that the affected land owners (Chumukedima sector) would impose “no compensation, no road” till the compensation was released.
LOCC alleged that majority of the land owners, whose land fell within Dimapur district, have been affected by the construction of two-lane Peren-Dimapur section on NH-129 A by National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH).
Land Owners Coordination Committee alleged that NHIDCL had “forcibly” taken the possession of their land without initiating any move to acquire, resolve or settle the compensation, rehabilitation and re-settlement issues with them.
It claimed that MoRTH had already sanctioned the amount for the construction of the said road, but the affected landowners were yet to receive the compensation.
The committee has appealed to the district administration to initiate steps by directing NHIDCL to immediately initiate steps for acquisition of the land required for the construction and pay fair compensation to the affected landowners.
LOCC said that NHIDCL had “no legal authority to claim or develop the land without following the due process of law.” The committee also demanded that NHIDCL be restrained from interfering with the landowners’ right to and/or enjoyment of their land till acquisition, compensation, rehabilitation and /or re-settlement issues were settled. Earlier, on July 6, 2021, LOCC, on behalf of the affected landowners along the stretch of Km.173.850 to Km 190.850 of NH-129 A in Dimapur district, in a representation to union minister for MoRTH, alleged that NHIDCL “forcefully” executed the work on September 20, 2020.
The committee stated that despite the construction work being stopped by the affected landowners in November 2020, the company continued to execute the work forcefully.
Accusing NHIDCL Ltd of “fooling the affected landowners,” the affected landowners had directed the company to withdraw all their machineries/materials/tools/labourers from the spot.
LOCC in its representation had appealed to the union minister to look into the grievances of the affected landowners and take up the matter for the welfare of the citizen at the earliest.