AHLAVCCA warns of intensified agitation
Source: The Sangai Express

Kangpokpi, June 17 2021: The Asian Highway Land Affected Villages Chairmen/Chiefs' Association (Gamgiphai to Taphou Kuki) (AHLAVCCA) in association with all the affected landowners and stakeholders have decided to carry out various forms of agitation if the Government fails to revoke and rectify all the land acquisition orders and resolve the issue at the earliest.

The association along with all the affected landowners and stakeholders took the decision in its emergency meeting held yesterday at Community Hall, Kangpokpi.

Speaking to media persons, the association secretary, Semson Kipgen said that it sad to witness the incessant gushing and disturbing situation on the proposed widening, expansion, maintenance, management, and operation of National Highway 2 in the stretch of land chainage No 277+400 and 294+100 (Gamgiphai to Kalapahar) by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India.

He alleged that despite all possible efforts being made, the District Administration and Revenue Department have been taking due advantage of procedural errors/lapse on land demarcation and registration by the Government have been mischievously exercising their muscle in issuing orders and notifications, snubbing the stakeholders.

He alleged that the State Government and Revenue Department in particular have disregarded the Memorandum signed between the association and DC/LA of Kangpokpi District on 4th January, 2021 and the subsequent representations by various civil societies and stakeholders within Kangpokpi district for justified implementation.

He also said that the concerned authority overruled all the objections submitted under the sub-section (1) of section 3A and 3D of the National Highways Act, 1956 (48 of 1956), by the association while adding that the association stands by its objection in revoking and rectifying all the said land acquisition orders.

"Such worn-out land records of 1975-89 cannot be accepted in any case of implementing any developmental projects within the said stretch of land", he added.

Semson Kipgen also questioned the intention of the joint land survey carried out by DC Imphal west and DC/LA Kangpokpi when the same was kept in abeyance while issuing subsequent land acquisition orders by the government.

"Isn't this total disregard to the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation, and Resettlement Act, 2013 (Land Acquisition Act, 2013)", he asked.

He further questioned the intention of the Government in treating the landowners of the same district differently (the stretch of land from Changoubung- T.Khullen village to Taphou-Kuki as unsurveyed land, while the stretch from Kangpokpi to Gamgiphai is not treated the same) and asked whether there can be different law of land acquisition and administration for the same district.

AHLAVCCA have therefore decided to resort to various forms of agitation if the Government fails to address at the earliest.

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