Dimapur CSOs, tribal bodies reaffirm stance to retain Nagaland’s land acquisition law

DIMAPUR — The Deputy Commissioner of Dimapur, Dr. Tinojongshi Chang, on Monday convened a meeting with all Dimapur-based civil society organisations (CSOs) and tribal leaders to discuss the proposed adoption of National Highway Act, 1956 for national highway construction in Nagaland.

The meeting, held at the DC’s conference hall, saw extensive deliberations on whether the state should shift from its existing land acquisition framework to the central legislation.

Briefing the media after the meeting, Naga Council Dimapur (NCD) president GK Rengma said that the house unanimously reaffirmed its stand to retain the Nagaland Land (Requisition and Acquisition) Act, 1965, which is protected under Article 371(A), instead of adopting the National Highway Act, 1956.

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Rengma said that representatives of all Dimapur-based tribal bodies and CSOs expressed concern that adopting the central Act could dilute the state’s constitutional safeguards over land and its resources.

“The meeting resolved to uphold the Nagaland Land (Requisition and Acquisition) Act, 1965 for all land acquisition processes,” he said.

President of Ao Senso Telongjem Dimapur (ASTD), Ningsangwaba Pongen, said that the main purpose of the meeting was to assess which of the two legislations—the state Act of 1965 or the National Highway Act of 1956—would be appropriate during the construction of National Highways in Nagaland.

All attendees, he said, were unanimous in supporting the continuation of the state Act.