Residents stage protest demanding compensation for land acquisition

From a Correspondent

Dibrugarh, March 3: Alleging discrepancies in payment of rightful compensation for acquisition of land by the government for construction of the four-lane road highways project, at least 1,500 villagers of 52 villages are staging an indefinite sit-in over NH (B) under the aegis of Khatigrasta Suraksha Samiti Joutho Mancha (KSSJM). Due to the ongoing strike, the construction work of the four-lane roads project has come to a halt with people demanding rightful payment of their compensation.

The residents of Lathikoria, Thengal, Changmai Goriya, Jokai, Kolioni, Harokpothar, Jokai Konwar Gaon, Borbeel, Thekerani, Khamtighat, 1 No Charaihabi, 2 No. Charaihabi, Tipam Nigam, Noloni gaon, Lengeri Changmai Gaon, Chaodang, Moran Gaon, 2 No Bamunpukhuri, Gughuloni, soni, Oughuri, FS Grant,  Puroni Nokhat , Hol’guri, Tipmiya, Hogunsua, Hukani, Rongabononi, Tipmiya Bongali, Rajgarh, 2 No Nobhkotia, Dhupmora  and other villages have been staging sit-in strikes at regular intervals.

The KSSJM members like Bolindra Saikia, Bhoirab Gogoi, Promod Changmai, Shiv Chetia, Nijora Gogoi and  Labanya Gogoi, attending a press meet had  accused the Union Minister for Youth and Sports Affairs (I/C) for his failure to take appropriate steps even after giving them assurances of gratifying their demands.

The Mancha even held responsible the Union Minister Sarbanda Sonowal, the district administration and the authorities concerned for their ittention towards the repeated memoranda which were submitted  by the Mancha at several times to apprise them of the affected villagers desolation. The Mancha have alleged that the district administration in the time of acquisition of their lands did not go by the  Acts of the Land Law as such, until fair compensation is not paid to them  as per the present rules, the construction work would not be begin.

The members of the Joutho Mancha have even stated that as no weight has been laid by the State Government, the district administration or by the local people’s representative to resolve the issues of necessary compensation of the protesting affected village residents, the KSSJM has threatened to intensify their agitation in the coming days.

As such to discuss their future endeavours in this regard, KSSJM have decided to organize a convention  on  March 20, which is scheduled to be attended amongst others by leader of Gamukti Axom, Akhil Gogoi; eminent scholar, Dr. Dilip Bora; advocate, Shantanu Borthakur; Pabitra Hazarika; State secretary of CPI (ML) Vivek Das; Pronob Doley of AIPF; and Shayon Sengupta and other guests. Far-reaching decisions are also scheduled to be taken at the convention to avow the anguished villagers rights.