Address land compensation disparity: Committee to Govt
Source: Chronicle News Service

Thoubal, September 03 2022: National Highway New Alignment Affected Land Owners' Committee has demanded the state government to address the disparity in land compensation.

Addressing a press meet at Wangjing on Saturday, Committee president Tekcham Rameshwar alleged that lesser compensation amount is being given to land owners of Wangjing Municipal area compared to those affected by the National Highway/Asian Highway construction project, especially between Lilong and Khongjom.

While cautioning that the Committee will halt the highway project if its genuine proposal evokes no positive response, Rameshwar stated that land owners cannot accept the notification issued by Thoubal deputy commissioner on June 16 which lowered the land price from the earlier notification which assured Rs 537 per square foot.

It mentioned that the solatium amount is also included in the land price fixed, which means that actual land price is Rs 268.50 per square foot.

The price fixed for land in Wangjing Municipal Council area is now less than the price of one kilogram of apple or orange.

Such arbitrary fixing of land price is nothing repression of rights to life of land owners, he claimed.

Rameshwar pointed out that in a notification issued by DC Thoubal on December 23, 2019 for acquisition of land for widening of NH102, the land price was fixed at Rs 707 per square feet for Wangjing.

The notification did not mention any payment of solatium to land owners for acquiring their land, hence, the land owners have been demanding that solatium be included in the compensation or compensation given on par with other places of the highway to the DC Thoubal from time to time.

He further pointed out that land price has been fixed at Rs 1000 to Rs 1200 per square feet in the notification issued for areas of Athokpam, Kiyam, Waithou, Ushoipokpi and Thoubal Achouba.

Three-four years ago, the land tax was Rs 10, which currently Rs 100 to Rs 150 in municipal areas and as such since land tax has been increased the land value should also be increased, he reasoned.

Rameshwar maintained that considering this, the government must review the notification issued by DC Thoubal which has fixed land price lower than before.

He questioned why an arbitrator has not been put in place for Thoubal district till now, when they have been posted for other districts as per central guidelines.

Rameshwar also decried that authorities concerned have not taken up any step with regard to persons with disability who have lost all of their land due to acquisition of land for highway construction despite submitting all the required documents.

He reiterated that the government and DC Thoubal should look into the matter and resolve it at the earliest, or else they would stop the national highway project.

The press meet was also attended by other Committee members and affected land owners.

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