By Our Reporter
Shillong: The state government is yet again faced with another stumbling block in making headway into the construction of many projects pertaining to road connectivity in the State following protests from landowners who are demanding prior payment for their land by the government before the construction gets underway.
Local residents of Wapung village in Jaintia Hills district have expressed their objection over the proposed construction of the 2-lane road from Jowai to Ratacherra by M/S Simplex Infrastructure Ltd, Kolkata stating that the State Government has to first pay the amount due to the land owners before actually acquiring their land.
The local residents headed by the village authorities met recently and unanimously decided to ask the government to follow the ‘give and take’ policy which included payment of compensation money to all the locals who are going to be affected by the project before acquiring their land, payment of due compensation while demanding the government to make the payment as per the current price rate.
Organised by the KSU Khliehriat Circle, the meeting expressed fear over land acquisition by the Government stating that “on many occasions, the government would delay the payment and simply take over the land, leaving people with nothing but regret.”
The Rangbah Shnong of the village, JR Ryngkhlem has directed all the local residents to arrange their land holding certificates under the KHADC to prove their ownership over their land.
“The land tenure system in the State is very different from other states and the land is owned by either a private individual or a clan or a Raid and the government can’t simply acquire the land without making any payment,” KSU assistant organising secretary Wallambok Kharsati said.