NTUCT urges prompt redressal of affected landowners’ grievances

DIMAPUR — The Naga Tribal Union Chümoukedima Town (NTUCT) has urged the Nagaland government and the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) to take immediate steps to redress the grievances of landowners affected by the ongoing construction on four-lane highway (NH-29) between Chümoukedima and Kohima.

Among others, the union demanded equity compensation to the affected land owners, removal of debris lying along the right of way (RoW) adjoining the National Highway and residential areas, and that no other individual or company should be allowed to occupy the RoW area without the knowledge and approval of the concerned individual land owners.

The NTUCT, in a press release, said that after acquisition of land measuring 293.84 acre in Chümoukedima, the NHIDCL (implementing agency) started cutting and constructing the said four-lane road. During this process, many unexpected and unforeseen damages were done to the property of land owners.

The union informed that random cutting using heavy machines and use of unauthorised gelatin sticks to blast rocks had left the entire high ridges unsafe for humans, and that some lives were lost due to sudden rock slides during inclement weather.

“The vehicular journey to this road remains a nightmare during rainy season as all the rocky areas and ridges were already shaken and loose. The NHIDCL shall be held fully responsible for any human-made disasters for not observing the mandated schedule of works,” it said.

The union went on to claim that the random cutting in the hilly areas have destroyed more land area than what the NHAI acquired from the land owners.

It insisted that the NHAI has to compensate to the affected land owners after due process of measurement.

The NTUCT further alleged that the RoW was obstructing the land owners’ access to their own land “due to non-development and clearance of the obstructing objects by the NHAI.”

Demanding the highway authority to clear and remove such obstructions, the union said that if this is not done, then the land owners must be allowed to remove the debris and that the NHAI must bear the expense.

The union further said that if the “callous attitude of the authority persists,” then it is prepared to take extreme steps to redress the grievances of the concerned affected land owners.