A CORRESPONDENT
GAURISAGAR: With a view to expand the four-lane highway in Assam, the Ministry of Road and Highway Shipping, Government of India, had started construction in 2014 from Numaligarh to Dibrugarh. For this purpose, buildings and trees which were beside the former NH37 were demolished after providing compensation. Like other parts, the Jhanji to Demow 44 km-stretch of NH37 in Sivasagar district was also upgraded to four-lane highway and the work started in 2015.
Surprisingly, even after 10 years, the Jhanji to Demow-stretch is done only halfway through. Initially, the road was constructed at a very slow pace but it has picked up speed now. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highway Shipping, Government of India as well as the Government of Assam have given deadlines to the road construction companies from time to time to complete the construction work. It is significant that Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari announced this in response to a question in the Lok Sabha by Jorhat MP Gaurav Gogoi regarding the completion of the road.
Meanwhile, Somnath Das, a resident of Namdang Pathalial Village on the outskirts of Gaurisagar under Meteka Bangaon Mouza in Sivasagar Revenue Circle of Sivasagar district has not received compensation for Land Acquisition till the month of February, 2025, by when Union Road Transport Minister had announced that the road would be complete. Talking to the media, Somnath Das told that in September 17, 2015, Public Works Department (Now Loka Nirman), Sivasgar had made an estimate of the acquired land, a bamboo-made house, a worship house and some trees (Jirat) and submitted it to the District Commissioner's Office, Sivasagar for approval of compensation.
However, Somnath Das has not received any compensation except for a toilet and trees on his land. Since last ten years, Sumannath Das has been running from office of the District Collector to the Revenue Circle Office, Sivasgar, seeking his compensation but in vain. Finding no other way, Das lodged a complaint at the Assam Chief Minister Public Grievances Cell. The CM grievances portal has registered his complaint vide number CMASM/P/2025/0000640. Somnath Das told this reporter that he has disclosed his bitter experience in the complaint regarding his compensation.
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