Morung Express News
Dimapur | February 17
Except one village, all villages in Dimapur district have, more or less, decided to stick to the agreed rate of Rs. 60-80 per square feet as compensation of land under the proposed NFR line between Dimapur and Zubza.
At a meeting held here at CPO hall, Chumukedima town, on Thursday, all villages falling under the proposed railway line, including Chumukedima, Thahekhu, Sovima, Virazouma, Tuolazouma, Kuda and Khriezephe, agreed to abide by the formally agreed rate.
The only dissension was from Thilixu village, which initially said it would stick to the formerly agreed rate it struck with the district authority, i.e. at the rate of Rs 280 per square feet. However, with much persuasion from the other villages, Thilixu representative including its GB, assured the house that the village will try to go along with the majority opinion after consulting with the village authority and landowners of the village.
Earlier, convenor of NFR Land Owners’ Union, T Shuya, who chaired the meeting, updated the members on the latest situation, vis a vis the stand of the land owners and the position of the Railway Ministry.
The meeting also took note of the alleged interference of officials from the district administration, where some members accused the administration of trying to sabotage the proposed railway line.
In the end, the meeting resolved that the villages falling under the proposed railway line would not come in the way of development, which would benefit Naga society as a whole.
Representatives from Thahekhu, Thilixu, Virazouma, Kuda, Chumukedima and Ao Baptist Church, Kuda, shared their opinions. Vice president of Chakhroma Public Organization (CPO), Beituo Hama, in his address appealed to the landowners that whatever the “genuine grievances” of villages, every village has to keep in consideration the overall development of Nagas.
Meanwhile, the CPO has in a representation to the state’s chief secretary signed by its vice president Beituo Hama and general secretary K Nakhro, assured both the state government and the Railway Ministry that the CPO will extend all possible support to realizing the proposed railway line. On the other hand, the CPO also said that any delay in the payment of compensation may cost “additional damage to the landowners, which will have negative impact on the proposed project.” The CPO urged to the state government to intervene and take up the matter with the Railway authorities for early release of land compensation to the landowners.
