Dimapur, AUGUST 29 (MExN): Even though some of the Indian army (military/paramilitary) barracks, cantonments and camps in Dimapur lie deserted, some without fencing even, with just a handful of caretakers, the Ministry of Defence of the Government of India has delayed the process of handing back army-occupied private land to their respective owners. The landowners have neither been paid any rent for their land till date nor have they been compensated.
In a letter to the Union Minister of Defence, A.K. Antony, the President and Secretary of the Forum of Land Owners/Pattadars Dimapur (LOPD) have stated that while the state government and administration have already taken measures to hand/take over the land, the army has not fulfilled its commitment to give back the land due to an authorization required from their Ministry to do so. This has not happened despite repeated reminders.
The Forum had handed over a memorandum to this effect to Antony in July 2011, followed by a reminder in October that year through the Deputy Commissioner of Dimapur. For the land to be given back to private owners, it needs to be transferred from the army authority to the district administration first, for which a nod from the Ministry is essential.
“It is unfortunate to see that the matter is being kept delayed at the apex level of the Defence Ministry,” stated the letter, further stating that “prolong delaying tactics being played by the Government of India may unpredictably cause untoward situation as the land pattadars have become more and more impatient.”
In their earlier memorandum, the landowners’ body mentioned that owners continue to pay land tax to the government without getting any benefits in return. The LOPD has warned that failing hand/takeover of their land, “landowners/pattadars will be compelled to resort to its own course of action for which the forum shall not be held responsible.”
