HAFLONG: In a strong move to address long-standing grievances, several community organizations in Assam's Dima Hasao District, including the N.C. Hills Indigenous Students Forum (NCHISF), the N.C. Hills Indigenous Women Forum (NCHIWF), and the Gaon Buras, have announced plans for an indefinite dharna to demand immediate resolution of pressing issues.
These include the immediate payment of compensation for NHAI-affected families, compensation for land acquired within the Right of Way (ROW), blacktopping of NH-27 from Jatinga to Miyungkro, and stricter traffic control on overloaded trucks.
The protest is being driven by the unresolved issue of compensation for damages caused by the NHAI’s four-lane construction, which has affected many families' homes, crops, and farmlands in the district. Although the NHAI had assured compensation after the Railways settled claims in March 2020, the promised payments have not been made.
Despite the intervention of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who had promised to address the issue during a meeting in January 2022, the situation remains unresolved. The Re-Assessment Committee, formed under the Deputy Commissioner, submitted its report a year ago, but no further action has been taken.
Additionally, landowners whose properties were acquired for the Right of Way have still not received compensation, despite assurances from local authorities. The community has expressed that if the payments are not made soon, they will halt construction work on the affected lands.
Another major concern is the deteriorating condition of NH-27 from Jatinga to Miyungkro, which has become a safety hazard. Despite promises to repair and blacktop the road, no work has been done. The community is calling for immediate repairs, especially before the monsoon season.
Overloaded trucks continue to cause road damage and traffic congestion, further exacerbating local hardships. The groups have vowed to continue their "No Pay, No Work" policy until their demands are met, urging the Chief Minister's intervention for a high-level meeting to resolve the issues.
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