NH-29 two-lane project: Affected landowners demand compensation

Dimapur, Sep. 19 (EMN): While welcoming the mega project, two-lane widening under SARDP phase- B, the NH-29 two-lane affected land owners committee, Secheku area (NH-29 TLALOCSA) has demanded that any damages to be caused to any standing structures, agriculture, horticulture, social forestry, fisheries and other allied products laying above or below the road and land must be assessed for compensation as mentioned in the land acquisition for national highways under the National Highways Act 1956 chapter 1 and 2 and Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act 2013 (removal of difficulties) 2015 and the final detailed project report.

The NH-29 TLALOCSA is a conglomeration of land owners from six villages namely Mesulumi, Enhulumi, Chizami Sumi, Losatephe and Losami under Secheku area, whose land is likely to be affected in the process of executing NH-29 two-lane widening, stated a press release issued on Saturday.

The ownership of land and its resources belong to individuals and this position has been clearly defined and protected by Article 371-A (IV) of the Constitution of India and more, as per sub-section 2 of the Nagaland, Land and Revenue Regulation (Amendment Act) 1978, it stated.

“For all clarity, it may be pointed out that there is no waste land or community land and every inch of land has its value. It has been the practice of our forefathers till date that our people continued to practice shifting cultivation based on fertility of soil and therefore, from time to time land are utilized for such agricultural allied and horticultural products, social forestry etc. for sustaining life by poor and marginalised cultivators. Besides, historical monoliths which are lying along the stretches of the NH-29 need to be preserved as they are of great significance and proscribed to be displaced or removed according to our customs and traditions,” it read.

The committee alleged that in a series of notifications and meetings, the deputy commissioner of Phek and his subordinates delegated to oversee the project have repeatedly claimed that “there is no land compensation and convinced the village council chairmen to sign no objection certificate wherein, condition no. 1 said: ‘No land compensation shall be claimed by the landowners for land to be utilised for this project.’

Stating that this has not only detrimental effects and negates affected landowners in the fight for right to fair compensation under the provision but also contradicts the final detailed project report, the committee asked the authorities on what ground it suppressed and misinterpreted the information about the land compensation when it was clearly mentioned and provided in all the official documents.

The land owners expressed anguish over the ‘highness of the district administrative officers’, stating that they were not invited for the talk even once despite the land owners willing to donate their land for development.

The committee stated that if the affected landowners are sidelined and not taken into confidence and compensated as per the provision, it will fight for its right legally.

It further expressed hope that transparency and justice will prevail so that the execution of the project is not hampered and completed within the stipulated time framed.