DIMAPUR, SEPTEMBER 8 (MExN): The Chakhesang Public Organization (CPO) Committee on 2-lane Road has sought the intervention of the Union Minister of Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH), Nitin Gadkari over non payment of compensation to landowners whose properties were damaged during the execution of 2 lanning of Chakabama-Zunheboto road and Pfutsero-Phek road under SARDP-NE (Phase-A).
This, despite a judgment and order from the Guahati High Court, Kohima Bench dated January 30, 2023 directing MoRTH to complete the whole exercise of paying compensation to the aggrieved parties within 6 months, which expired on July 30, 2023.
The CPO committee and other petitioners had filed a PIL in 2019 on behalf of landowners whose land/properties were damaged during execution of 2 lanning of Chakabama-Zunheboto road and Pfutsero-Phek road under SARDP-NE (Phase-A), pleading court intervention for compensation of the damaged caused as per the assessment done jointly by state authorities, aggrieved members and local administrative bodies.
However, three months into the court order and with no response forthcoming on the court’s directive, the CPO said it had taken up the matter with the Nagaland Chief Secretary, who immediately wrote to the Ministry concerned. Following this, some CPO members & PIL petitioners also went to the Ministry on May 31 and explained to the concerned authority about their grievances.
A representation was also submitted to the State Government on August 10 over the same, followed again by another representation on August 18, 2023 for the delay. The same day, the State Government also submitted the required proposal to the Ministry, the CPO highlighted.
It termed as most disappointing that a welfare government led by BJP in the centre and its alliance in the state are seemingly playing around with the long felt sufferings and needs of thousands of poor victims whose permanent cultivation and habitation are permanently damaged, forcing many to migrate to urban areas for daily wages and livelihood, and whose children have abandoned their schooling for years altogether.
With no other options left, the CPO stated that its committee and other PIL petitioners have already filed contempt of court. It, however, hoped that the intervention of the Union Minister of MoRTH even in this stage would settle the pending matter without further delay.
