Chümoukedima, FEBRUARY 7 (MExN): The agency responsible for executing the project for 4-laning the Dimapur-Kohima road, NH-29, now faces charges of destroying more land area than what was originally acquired. The Naga Tribal Union Chümoukedima Town (NTUCT), while making the claim, asked the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Nagaland state government to compensate the affected land owners.
NTUCT, in a press release, on February 27, said that random earth cutting in hilly terrain by the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) destroyed more land area than what was acquired from the land owners for the construction of the 4-lane.
According to it, numerous unforeseen damages befell the properties situated alongside the National Highway as a result of land erosion and landslides during the construction. The resultant debris scattered to lands not acquired, consequently rendering the affected lands unsuitable for human habitation and the landowners unable to cultivate their lands. It thus, held that the NHAI must recompense the land owners “after due process of measurement.”
While stating that the random earth cutting, alongwith, blasting had left the ridges overlooking the highway unsafe, it said that the NHIDCL will be held responsible for any disaster.
It further said that the Right of Way (RoW), reserved by the NHAI during the construction, is obstructing the landowners from accessing their lands as debris was not removed. If the debris is not removed by the NAHI, it said that the land owners should be allowed to clear the debris with the cost of clearing borne by the NHAI.
It maintained that the NHAI, alongwith the state government, must treat the issue as genuine and urgent in nature, and take remedial measures accordingly. The remedial measures it demanded included the compensation of the affected land owners and removing the debris lying on the RoW. It stressed that no other individual/company should be allowed to occupy the RoW area without the knowledge and approval of the affected land owners.
While stating that the NTUCT was mandated by the affected village councils and individual land owners to pursue the matter with the authorities, it recalled issuing press releases in the past, besides serving a legal notice to the state government on March 20, 2023. It added that copy of the legal notice was also serves to other authorities only to be ignored.
It cautioned of taking steps to redress the grievances of the affected land owners, if the “callous attitude of the authority persists.”
