Land owners hold meeting, demand fair compensation
Source: The Sangai Express

Thoubal, April 27 2018: Affected land owners in the present acquisition of land along the National Highway 102, today held a meeting at Lilong and adopted several resolutions to put before the Government for consideration.

United Action Committee of the land owners from Lilong to Wangjing organised the meeting to discuss the land acquisition policy of the Government for widening the road (NH 102).Denouncing the Government's Direct Purchase Policy for acquisition of land for widening the highway, the land owners resolved and demanded the Government to follow the Land Acquisition Act to acquire the land needed for the widening of the highway.

If the Government wishes to go ahead with the Direct Purchase Policy to acquire the lands without considering the demand of the land owners to follow Land Acquisition Act, then the Government, prior to the acquisition of the land, should come to agreement with the landowners and sign a deed of agreement "between the two parties (Govt and land owners), the meeting demanded.

Regarding the compensation of the land, the land owners claimed that the amount per square feet settled by the Government is not standard with the current economy.

The Government should compensate Rs 5,000 per square feet, demanded the land owners.

The acquisition of the land should be done fair and square, appealed the land owners and said that the land should be acquired equally on both sides of road (50 feet from the median to each side of the road may be acquired for the widening of the highway).

Acquisition of land beyond the said 50 feet on each side will not be allowed, cautioned the landowners.

The Government must settle the amount to be compensated in par with the present costs of building and destroying the same (standing properties).

The Government must provide all the compensations in advance, demanded the committee of the landowners.

The landowners signed the resolutions drawn at the meeting and agreed to send copies of the signed resolutions to the Union Government, State Government and authorities concerned.

Appealing the Government to act on their demands, the landowners cautioned that they will take up various forms of agitation if the Government fails to deliver positive response.

They will further approach to the Court of law to enforce their rights, the landowners said.

Chairman of Committee on Human Rights Phunindro Konsam, Irabot Foundations' Kh Gopen and CRA Manipur's Jeeten Yumnam attended the meeting today presided by the president of the United Action Committee W Ibopishak.

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