Phek DC informs on damage compensation survey

PHEK, SEPTEMBER 20 (MExN): The Deputy Commissioner of Phek has informed all concerned Village Councils and landowners affected by the ongoing Kohima-Jessami 2-Lane road widening project that the assessment/survey for damage compensation for those properties that may be affected by the said road widening project has already started and will be completed soon. 

A circular issued by the DC informed that as per the policy of the State Government to expedite road development and communication in intra-state connectivity projects and fulfill the long impending demands of the people for better and faster road communication, “land free of cost has to be made available to NHIDCL for all 2-Lane development projects on existing alignment in the State.” 

“Therefore no land compensation is being paid and only property damage compensation is being paid as per the Departmental rates and accordingly the projects are being executed in the districts of Kohima, Peren, Mokokchung, Mon, Longleng, Wokha and also in Phek district in line with the government policy, the DC stated. 

He informed that this decision was also taken in the meeting chaired by the Chief Secretary on November 20, 2018 in which the affected Village Councils, GBs and other stakeholders were also present. The same was reiterated by NHIDCL representatives during the DPR presentation to the stakeholders in the DBs court, office of the ADC Pfutsero on December 7, 2019, he added. 

The DC further stated that the concerned village councils as empowered by the Nagaland Village and Area Councils Act 1978 representing the inhabitants of the village “have submitted no objections certificate to the affect that no land compensation shall be claimed by the land owners for the project, however assets and properties attached to the land such as plantations, fishery ponds, paddy fields, infrastructure such as buildings etc shall be compensated as per the departmental rates.” 

“The project is at a very advanced stage and since it was approved as per the government policy any deviation and hindrance on land compensation issue may hamper the ongoing mega project which is going to benefit the inhabitants of the district and the State as a whole,” the DC said in the circular. He therefore sought cooperation from all the affected stakeholders.