Affected landowners write to Union Minister
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 18 2024: Affected Land & Property Owner's Committee has written to the Union Minister of Transport and Highways requesting rightful compensation for properties damaged in construction of Tamenglong-Haflong Road.

The affected landowners are of Dailong village, Inriangluang (Tamenglong) village, Phellong village, Namtiram village, Azuram village, Mandeu village and Tousem village.

They asserted that they have not been compensated when fellow citizens affected by the same project in the Assam section of road (Jiri River to Mahur) have been fairly compensated.

In the letter to the Union Transport Minister, the affected landowners' committee claimed that the then Deputy Commissioners and Line Departments concerned had allegedly issued a "No Objection Certificate for handing over of land, standing property on Zero Compensation basis" which violated the National Highways Act 1956 and "The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisitions on Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act 2013 .

It further asserted and claimed that the signatures given in the affidavit for the NOC were obtained allegedly without the consent of the legitimate landowners, and as such the certificate shouldn't be applicable.

The committee then requested the Union Minister to conduct a joint spot enquiry for compensation to be rolled out to the affected landowners.

In case the Ministry fails to hear and act on the grievances of the affected landowners, intense forms of agitation against construction companies including the NHIDCL may be launched from September 22.The Centre and the State Government must bear the responsibility of any untoward incidents that may arise, said the committee.

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