Dharna demanding compensation for highway-affected families in Dima Hasao

OUR CORRESPONDENT

HAFLONG: Hundreds of residents from 28 affected villages launched an indefinite sit-in protest at Retzawl village in Dima Hasao on Friday, blocking a road to demand immediate compensation for land acquisition and damage caused during the conversion of NH-27. Organized by the Indigenous Students’ Forum (ISF), Indigenous Women’s Forum (IWF), and affected villagers, the dharna disrupted vehicular movement on the Jatinga-Silchar route, though emergency and essential services were being allowed to pass. The protesters claimed that many families were yet to receive compensation for the Right of Way (RoW) land acquisition.

They also demanded immediate payments for families whose fertile land was damaged due to earth dumping during the highway conversion and black-topping of the Jatinga-Harangajao road. According to the villagers, over 900 families are awaiting compensation totalling more than Rs 22 crore. ISF President David Keivom stated that their demands for compensation had long gone unheard. He vowed that the protest would continue until the competent authorities provide a firm assurance for resolution.

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