Meghalaya: Land owners of East Garo Hills await compensation for NH 44; DC assures payment

By Our Correspondent

Tura, Dec 13,2017: Land owners of East Garo Hills, who had provided land for the construction of the 2 lane National Highway – 44, which is due to be inaugurated by the prime minister, Narendra Modi on Dec 16, have complained of compensation not being provided by the state for their acquired land.

The NH 44 connects Tura in West Garo Hills through Nongstoin in WKH and the capital Shillong in East Khasi Hills and is one of the best roads in the entire North East region.

The compliant comes in the wake of the prime minister's visit to the state though the administration of East Garo Hills quickly moved to assure villagers of the affected villages of compensation being approved with only the final paper work remaining.

"It may take another few days as the matter has already been approved by the Deputy Chief Minister of the state. We are just awaiting the final paper work to be completed after which compensation will be made to the affected and losers," said deputy commissioner, Ram Kumar.

6 Nokmas (headmen) of Nengminza Adok, Rongapgre, Mangsang Adok, Dilmagre, Ampanggre, Samanda and Rongalgre, had earlier sought to highlight the non-payment of compensation to them.

"What is the point of inaugurating the road when we have not got what is due to us? This is highly condemnable as it has already been five years since our lands were taken. We just want to get what is rightfully ours," said one of the Nokmas.

A total of 32 land owners of the above mentioned villages are yet to be compensated for the loss of their land and shops that they owned prior to the acquisition with the amount going into crores of rupees.

TNT News