Kohima, February 23 (DIPR): Nagaland State Transport Department (NST) has said that its site at Lerie, Kohima where the Divisional Workshop and the staff quarters of NST Kohima are located has been encroached upon by private individuals. Officials of the department visited the site on February 20.
The site measuring approximately 60.2 acres physical area is compensated and acquired government land, stated the department.
The team that visited the site consisted of Secretary to the Government of Nagaland, Transport Department, Lithrongla G Chishi, accompanied by the General Manager, NST Senti Pongener and Departmental officials along with the Deputy Commissioner, Rovilato Mor, the RO and LRSO, Kohima.
The chain-linked fencing demarcating the boundary put up by the Department on the western side of the acquired land had been removed by the encroachers and the distinct boundary of the rivulet in the south, depression line on the north adjoining the police reserve (project) and the Dimapur-Kohima-Imphal Road of NH-39/29 in the East, have all been encroached upon by private individuals.
The individuals have constructed permanent buildings with occupants, permanent structures for construction, temporary structures and unoccupied but fenced areas, claiming ownerships inspite of administrative restraining orders from time to time.
A release from the General Manager, Nagaland State Transport, Dimapur, Senti Pongener stated that on query, it was found that the encroachers include third party individuals of sale-purchase from relatives of the land owners, resold buyers and individuals of Government allotments. Some of the encroachers, having settled/ occupied for years together in their constructed building or hutments numbering about 20 (twenty) households, have even formed a union of their own to thwart any action or intimidation against them from any corner.
The inspection aims to culminate in cancellation of Government allotments, eviction and dismantling of the permanent and temporary structures and to stop further encroachments in the near future, “which will be taken up in the highest forum including legal aspects to set exemplary action against encroachments of Government land in the state.”
