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DIMAPUR — The Phek District Maytas-Gayatri Damaged Victim Association (PDMGDVA) has resolved to postpone its proposed ‘mass protest,’ over the prolonged delay in release of compensation to victims of damaged infrastructure along the two-lane Zunheboto - Chakhabama and Pfutsero - Phek Road under Phek district.
The proposed agitation has been postponed from ‘December 1 till the 7th’.
In a press release issued on Wednesday, the association said that the decision was taken during an emergency meeting held on Nov. 28, considering the appeals made the deputy chief minister of Nagaland and the concerned authority.
The High Court has also listed the matter for hearing on December 7, in connection with the government’s non-compliance to a ‘contempt order’ issued on Oct. 3 this year, it said.
Citing a court order on Jan. 30, 2023, where the government of India (GoI) was directed to pay compensation to those affected by the road project within six months (ending July 30), the PDMGDVA said the Centre had issued a sanction order on Oct. 27, though late by three months, but the state government is yet to “clarify or whatever with the Ministry”.
In this connection, the PDMGDVA stated that it was inappropriate to prolong the agony of the aggrieved party on the pretext of ‘corresponding’ with the Ministry.
“State govt. is at liberty to go back to the court and challenge any outside court imposition if so, or at least allow the release of time bound damaged compensation to the poor victims and then negotiate at govt-to-govt level. Else repeatedly defying the hon'ble court's contempt order may avoidably risk the concerned authority on one side and aggravate the anger of the more than 10 years aggrieved community beyond reasonable protest on other side (Sic).
“PDMGDVA is being reasonable and has postponed the agitation till Dec. 7. However, if the state government fails to clear the pending matter by the end of the deadline, “the Association may be forced to go for intensive protest till payment is released,” the press release read.
Any further pleas for withdrawal of protest without payment may not be reciprocated, it added.