Project affected landowners' bandh underway
RNYOM questions delay in releasing land compensation
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, December 27 2021: Affected Landowners of NH-37, Tousem sub-division has declared imposition of a 48-hour bandh along the NH-37 from Phaitol to Barak with effect from Monday midnight to protest failure of the government to fulfil its demands for providing compensation to the affected land and property owners of 12 villages.

A release jointly issued by Village Authority Chairman Council Goinanglon and Phaitol Segments meeting recording chairman ST Khongsai and meeting chairman S Gangmei informed that the land and property owners of 12 villages came up with the decision to enforce the bandh since the government authority failed to fulfil their demands.

Further, the on-going construction and inauguration of Barak Bridge shall be banned indefinitely till the said compensation meant for the 12 affected villages is released by government authority, it said.

The 12 affected villages shall not be held responsible for any untoward activities during the bandh, it added.

On the other-hand, urging the state government to pay land compensation in connection with the construction work of Northeast Frontier Railway Safety Tunnel-12 at Khongsang (Sangrung) village, RNYOM has warned of launching agitation if the government fails to fulfil its demand.

While deploring the non-payment of the said land compensation, RNYOM, in a press release, said that the compensation fund amounting to Rs 5,91,90,062 was deposited with the deputy commissioner of Tamenglong via RTGS on November 23, 2020 and "the district administration under the stewardship of DC Tamenglong/Noney should be held responsible for the delay in releasing the fund deposited by the Northeast Frontier Railway".

"The work of construction has been off and on for the last one-year period due to the problem arising out of the discrimination against the land owners who deserve their due compensation.

The state government in general and the district authority in particular should come out clear about the undue delay in releasing the said fund already deposited by the Northeast Frontier Railway.

Justice delayed is justice denied," the Rongmei body said.

"The RNYOM cannot remain silent spectator on this issue of serious offence committed by the authorities concerned affecting the human rights and livelihood," the release maintained, adding, "The state authority should pull up the district authority for the mischief and discrimination of the rightful Khongsang villagers NH-37 under Noney District" .

"The matter has been delayed since last year when the Northeast Frontier Railway deposited the compensation amount on 23/11/2020.And similarly, a long pending compensation of the National Highway double/four lane must be paid at the earliest.

Failing which, the government is inviting condemnation from all the affected land owners.

Thereby, the RNYOM as a people's organisation will always stand by them in fighting for their rights," the organisation asserted.

RNYOM then "strongly" urged "the government to pay the said compensation within seven day's time from the day/date of this publication.

Failing which, the government of Manipur shall be held responsible for any unwanted consequences while different democratic forms of agitation are carried out by the organisation in the interest of the public in general and shall call bandh on National Highway-37 in protest against the intentional discriminatory delay of payment" .

Comment