DIMAPUR, MAY 4 (MExN): Against Corruption and Unabated Taxation (ACAUT) Nagaland has served a final appeal to NHIDCL (National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd) to immediately release the compensation money to the affected landowners of the 4-lane highway project from Patkai/ Chumukedima Bridge to Kushiabill village under Dimapur district.
A press statement received from Media Cell, ACAUT Nagaland on Wednesday said the compensation must be paid as per the 2016 revised rate, which is the demand from the landowners.
It noted that the price of the land has gone up since the last time the rates were fixed while the NHIDCL played “hide and seek with the lives of the landowners” for the last 2 years.
ACAUT said the concerns of the affected land owners are genuine and is a matter of serious concern as they had agreed to part with their property in the larger interest of the State at a very nominal rate.
It said the delay in the payment of compensation have victimized the landowners who now have to settle for a lesser value than they have actually bargained for vis-à-vis their counterparts in other districts and even Assam. In this connection, ACAUT said it have so far not carried the issue of non-payment of compensation beyond a certain level other than file a few RTIs related to the matter.
“However given the misery of the affected landowners it would be compelled to adopt confrontation as a method which may not bode well for any of the parties,” it stated.
Pointing out that the careless attitude and apathy on the part of NHIDCL is a classic case of corporate irresponsibility guided only by profit factor, ACAUT, while making a final appeal for immediate release of the compensation money, has cautioned that the corporation would be held “solely responsible for any compounder problems.”
