Failure in land acquisition hinders road widening: Francis Ngajokpa
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, February 10 2015:
Owing to problems faced in acquisition of land, the roads being constructed in the valley region under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna could not achieve the standard width, stated Rural Development and Panchayati Raj minister Francis Ngajokpa on Tuesday.
The minister who toured different parts of Imphal East and West districts to assess the execution of works under PMGSY remarked that the state exchequer has fund constraint and the state public works department is facing an uphill task in constructing new roads.
However, the projects undertaken under PMGSY are carried out with direct funding from the centre and as such there is no headache regarding shortage of fund which is a very fortunate thing, he stated.
Thus, it is indeed disappointing that people are not taking advantage of the opportunity and cooperating to acquisition of their lands for the road widening.
According to the specification of the PMGSY rules, the guidelines have to be strictly followed.
Other than acquirement of private homesteads and farmlands, the implementing agency has no other alternative of meeting the standard width of the roads, he added.
Stating that the engineers and contractors have no official rights to negotiate and bring a settlement with the landowners, he urged the participation of local organisations and MLAs in thrashing out a solution with the private land owners so that the process for widening of road can progress.
Sufficient fund is available for paying compensation to the owners of the farms and homestead, he added.
The minister inspected a 2.15 kilometre long road at Heibongpokpi, 1.05 km stretch of road at Mana Ingkhol, 12 km connecting road between Luwansangbam and Kameng, Khabam road and the 4-65 km long Pangei-Heingang road.
Chief engineer of Manipur State Rural Roads Development Agency, N Bapuchand and other officials accompanied him during the tour.