Morung Express News
Dimapur | August 11
The Gauhati High Court Kohima Bench on August 10 directed the State respondents and the Union of India to furnish the DPR of the ongoing 2-lane construction in 5 stretches across Nagaland. “We are of the view that the detailed project report of the project concerned should be placed before us,” stated the order issued by the Division Bench comprising of Justices Songkhupchung Serto and Kakheto Sema.
“We direct the State respondents and the Union of India to place the same on the next date,” it said listing the matter for hearing on September 7.
The Bench was hearing the Chakhesang Public Organisation-led Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed in December 2019 “claiming compensation on behalf of people whose lands and properties were damaged while widening the roads between Longleng-Changtonya road, Mon-Tamlu-Merangkong road, Phek-Pfutsero road and Zunheboto-Chakhabama road to 2 lanes under SARDP-NE (Phase-A).”
As per an earlier court order, the case of the petitioners was that “the lands and properties of poor and marginalized farmers along the roads were badly damaged and some of them beyond repair.”
Following representations submitted to the concerned authorities, the PIL submitted that “joint verifications were conducted and the damages caused were quantified and the amount of compensation to be given to each person was also determined.”
However, it pointed out that but for “reasons best known to the authorities,” compensations have not been paid.
