Nagaland: Group of landowners from Chetheba seeks ‘justice’

Dimapur, Aug. 6 (EMN): Citing RTI replies, the Chetheba Town Area Land Owners Association has claimed that it has “unearthed a multi-crore scam” in connection with damage compensation relating to two-lane Chakabama-Zunheboto road project.

According to a press release from the association on Tuesday, the first list of beneficiaries had contained some bogus recipients. “Accordingly, complaint was lodged and spot re-verification was conducted, but to our utter dismay, the re-verified beneficiary list contains more bogus than the earlier one as per RTI reply.”

It stated that the union had on June 18 wrote to the deputy commissioner of Phek concerning ‘misappropriation of funds and non-inclusion of genuine beneficiaries’. However, it stated, rather than addressing the issue, the DC had on July 29 ordered immediate clearance of the “compensated damage properties.” This, it stated, was tantamount to ‘blatant approval of misappropriation/bogus beneficiaries in the compensation exercise.’

The association then submitted a list of complaints to the extra assistant commissioner of Chetheba town on July 6 but no action has been initiated till date, it stated.

The lack of response from the district administration has prompted the association to write to the chief secretary seeking immediate action “to restore justice and transparency, conduct re-verification drive to include all genuine and left out landowners for adequate compensation and conduct investigation for the irregularities involved in the compensation and book the culprits under appropriate law at the earliest.”

The association reaffirmed its full support to the road project, provided adequate compensations are paid at the earliest.

“Having felt betrayal of trust reposed in administration, the landowners are hereby compelled to use print media to apprise the higher authorities and public on the issue. The public are also to be informed and be clear of the fact that landowners are not claiming for any compensation without a sanction budget but we are claiming all categories of approved damage compensation as per government sanction and approved rates,” it stated.