IT News
Imphal, Sept 26:
The Zeliangrong Civil Organisations (ZCOs), which include the Zeliangrong Baudi, Zeliangrong Youth Front, and Zeliangrong Students’ Union, have urged the relevant authorities to address the grievances of landowners affected by the ongoing construction of the Tamenglong-Mahur road. In a press release, the organizations emphasized the need for the government to take proactive measures to alleviate the hardships faced by those whose ancestral land and properties are being damaged. They called for adequate compensation to be provided in accordance with legal provisions.
The ZCOs criticized the government’s handling of the situation, stating that mismanagement has hindered the progress of development activities, particularly in relation to the Tamenglong-Mahur road project. They noted that landowners have resorted to democratic protests, demanding compensation for land acquired for the project, which is still under construction. This unrest, they argued, highlights the misleading information provided to landowners prior to the start of the project, despite the enactment of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013. The ZCOs asserted that the misinformation faced by landowners is a deceptive act, calling for disciplinary action against responsible officials for failing to fulfill their duties under the law.
In their statement, the ZCOs remarked on the universal principle that no land is without ownership and nothing can be acquired without compensation. They urged the government to recognize the rights of landowners and to develop specific methods for resolving disputes, ensuring that development schemes effectively reach deserving individuals and that projects are completed on time to fulfill their intended purposes.
The ZCOs emphasized that the agitation and protests from landowners could have been avoided had the authorities properly informed and sensitized them about their legitimate rights and entitlements. They noted that many landowners have succumbed to psychological intimidation, fearing that demanding compensation would jeopardize the road project. While acknowledging the necessity of development, they insisted that it should not come at the expense of the rights and well-being of the people.
The organizations reiterated that it is the government’s duty to address the demands of the affected landowners, ensuring that those in Zeliangrong territories are not deprived of their rights to compensation, especially when landowners in other sections of the Tamenglong-Mahur road stretch receive compensation.
