Special Correspondent
Hungpung, August 12:
The Hungpung Village Administrative Council (HVAC) on Tuesday launched a decisive eviction drive along the National Highway-102, clearing roadside encroachments, makeshift structures and illegally piled-up sand and stones in a move aimed at restoring free passage, improving road safety and protecting public spaces.
The eviction drive began from the Hungpung Mayora area and is set to continue through the NH-102 stretch covering Humpum/Hungpung and Dungrei within the jurisdiction of the village.
Speaking to the media at the spot, HVAC Chairman Eno. Akui YL said the Council had taken the decision after extensive deliberations over the growing inconvenience faced by commuters and travellers due to encroachment and obstruction along the highway.
He said the increasing volume of traffic on NH-102 had made it imperative to keep the highway and its adjoining public spaces free from obstruction. Roadside encroachment, indiscriminate dumping and storage of construction materials, sand and stones, as well as the erection of makeshift sheds, have increasingly narrowed the available road space and created potential hazards for motorists and pedestrians.
“Since this is a National Highway, maintaining a clear passage is not merely a matter of convenience but a matter of public safety,” Akui said, stressing that the Council’s action was undertaken in the larger public interest and was not directed against any particular individual.
The HVAC had earlier issued a public notice on April 28, 2026, giving residents within its jurisdiction 45 days to remove structures, businesses, private enterprises and other properties encroaching upon public spaces, including roadsides, pedestrian passages and drainage areas.
The notice specifically called for the removal of obstructions and private goods or materials kept along public spaces, with the Council appealing for public cooperation in the interest of safety, development and the overall welfare of the community.
However, with several occupants allegedly failing to comply with the directive within the stipulated period, the Council commenced enforcement action on Tuesday. JCB machinery was deployed to remove makeshift structures and clear accumulated sand, stones and other materials obstructing the highway.
Akui said the drive would continue until the entire NH-102 stretch falling within the Council’s jurisdiction was properly cleared.
He also appealed to roadside residents and business establishments to cooperate with the Council by maintaining adequate road space and avoiding practices such as wrong-side parking and encroachment extending from one drainage line to another.
The Chairman urged residents to view the exercise as a collective civic responsibility rather than an action against individuals, emphasising that a clear highway would benefit everyone.
“With the number of vehicles using NH-102 increasing every day, it is essential that we act before an avoidable accident or other untoward incident occurs,” he said.
The eviction operation was led by the HVAC Chairman and Secretary and was accompanied by executive members and other Council representatives.
The Council maintained that the drive was being carried out in good faith and with the broader objective of ensuring a safer, smoother and more accessible NH-102 for commuters, residents and emergency services alike.
