Compensation not paid to road project-hit villagers: Committee
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, March 24 2023:
Committee for Delivery of Social Justice secretary Ephrim Gangmei has stated that villagers of Chakanlong village who are affected by the expansion of National Highway no 37 (Imphal-Jiribam road) from Tupul to Namduanjang have been deprived of their rightful compensation.
Speaking to media persons at Manipur Press Club here on Friday, Ephrim recalled that a joint survey was conducted in 2015 for expansion of a 4 kilometre stretch road along National Highway 37 from Tupul to Namduanjang.
In the early months of 2016, a joint survey was conducted again by Noney SDO staffers and affected villagers with survey report published by Manipur chief secretary on March 20, 2017 in some local newspapers.
As such, the affected villagers considered that they will be given fair compensation under Right to Fair Compensation and Transparent Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, he pointed out, while alleging that some individuals namely Jesse Kamei and Ningmei Kamei have withdrawn over Rs 3 crore from the compensation meant for the affected villagers.
There are evidences of inclusion of three people from a household and withdrawing lakhs of rupees, he added.
Ephrim Gangmei further said that the affected villagers have been waiting with hope of receiving their rightful compensation, but in contrast the aforementioned individuals withdrew the huge amount of money meant for them.
Such wrongful act came to light when aggrieved villagers filed RTI to SPIO district collector, Noney.
In addition to this, the duo withdrew more than Rs 1 crore meant for the common land of the village.
Forgery of signatures of villagers and inflating the amount for villagers who have only a small plot of land affected and fewer amount for the villagers with large area of land were also found through the RTI application.
A complaint has been filed to the department concerned in this regard, but no solution has been brought out, he lamented, while revealing that the two individuals have been summoning and threatening the villagers.
If any unfortunate incidents happen to the villagers, then the two should be held responsible, he made it clear.
Ephrim Gangmei further drew the attention of the government to look into the matter at the earliest.