Road development project: PIL filed against anomalies in paying compensation

FROM A CORRESPONDENT

HAFLONG, April 28:  In order to protect the interest of the local community of Jatinga village in Dima-Hasao district here, the Indigenous Biodiversity & Human Rights Organization, a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) has filed a public interest litigation (PIL)  in the Gauhati High Court recently.

The organization in a statement said that the Government has decided to upgrade the existing intermediate road into a two-lane road from Jatinga village to Haflong in Dima Hasao district under the Special Accelerated Road Development programme in North East (SARPD-NE) and in the process the villagers have been deprived from their rights of compensation due to corrupt practices adopted by the authorities.

“No due process of law has been followed. No paper publication of notices have taken place as required by law nor adequate compensation paid. In the process the local innocent people who are mostly illiterate and belong to the lower strata of the society have been cheated and deprived from their property and livelihood. On the other hand it has come to light that some of the influential people of the locality have embezzled Governments by collecting compensation in spite of having no land or property by the side of the existing road being upgraded to a two-lane road,” said the statement.