Land acquisition a problem in Meghalaya

Staff Correspondent

Shillong, January 29: Land acquisition is a road block to development of centrally funded road projects in Meghalaya, indicated the Union Minister of State for Transport, Highway and Shipping P Radhakrisn on Friday.

Radhakrisn said this while referring to the pending award of contract to four projects that has been already earmarked for the State.

The Union Minister, meanwhile, announced that the Nongstoin–Domiasait– Wahkaji road stretching for around 61.57 km at an earmarked amount of Rs 355.10 crore has been awarded. This is not the case with the other four road projects under the Special Accelerated Road Development Programme in the Northeast. Nongstoin–Domaisiat–Wahkaji road is of strategic importance considering the uranium deposits.   

Without going into the nitty–gritty of the other pending road projects, Radhakrisn was apt in saying that land acquisition has been a problem for varied reasons. He said the Barapani– Shillong stretch of NH 40, Ranikor–Bagmara, Mawthabah–Ranikor and Nongstoin–Chaaygoan that are due for 2–laning are pending due to land acquisition problems. “Remaining four projects are pending for award of contract due to non–transfer of 90 per cent of land to the department,” he said, adding, “ It is to be noted that the land needs to be acquired and transferred, besides getting forest and environment clearances before awarding of a project for faster delivery”.  

Radhakrisn said Rs 164.94 crore has been put under the disposal of the State government for the road connecting Shillong and Tura via Nongstoin.