Affected landowners turn ire on ex-DC
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, September 08 2024: Affected landowners on Sunday served an open letter to Armstrong Pame, the then deputy commissioner of Tamenglong district, and to relevant line departments, demanding clarification and apology to the affected land owners of seven villages - Dailong, Inraiangluang, Phelong, Namtiram, Azuram, Mandeu and Tousem by September 15, 2024 .

In the letter, the affected landowners stated that the 'No Objection for Handing Over of Land and Property on a Zero Compensation basis for the construction of the Tamenglong Haflong Road or Tamenglong-Mahur Road (NH-137)", prepared by the former deputy commissioner of Tamenglong and the line departments, was submitted to higher authorities without the knowledge or consent of the legitimate landowners in areas through which the NH-137 passes.

Moreover, no public notifications were issued regarding the land acquisition for the road construction, covering the stretch from Dailong (0 km) to the Jiri River (96.870 km) within Tamenglong district.

The affected landowners alleged that Armstrong, along with the relevant line departments, violated two laws: the National Highway Act of 1956 (No 48 of 1956) and the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act of 2013 (No 30 of 2013) .

They accused him of unlawfully obtaining the signatures of uninformed village chairmen and secretaries from the seven affected villages on an affidavit, dated October 14, 2020 .

This affidavit, labelled as a "No Objection Certificate for the Handing Over of Land and Standing Property on a Zero Compensation Basis" for the Tamenglong-Haflong Road project, was signed under misleading circumstances.

The landowners claimed that this self-serving and reckless action has caused significant harm and losses to impoverished villagers and farmers who rely entirely on the land and its resources for their livelihood.

The open letter then demanded Amstrong's apology, asserting that it would facilitate review and resolution of issues necessary for fulfilling the public purpose under the 1956 and 2013 Acts, which govern the land acquisition process.

This process, conducted by the National Highway Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL), is essential for the transfer and acquisition of land to ensure that the compulsory acquisition achieves its commutative outcome and that those affected can actively participate in the development, similar to the approach taken in the Jiri River-Mahur section in Assam, the letter added.

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