‘Compensate farmers first’
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The State government’s proposed move to inaugurate the much-awaited Shillong Bypass in December has hit hurdles with the KSU on Saturday asking the Chief Minister to compensate the farmers first.
The KSU also fixed November 30 as deadline for the Government to pay the compensation failing which the Union along with the farmers would agitate.
The KSU’s Mawryngkneng circle president Wanlambok Kharsati said the Government should immediately compensate the damage caused by the company by way of dumping soil in the agriculture land especially at Diengpasoh, Mawryngkneng and Thadshalai areas belonging to the farmers.
“It appears that the in view of the upcoming Assembly election Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma wants to take political mileage by hurriedly inaugurating the project, but we reiterate that the Government should compensate the farmers before going ahead with the inauguration,” Kharsati added.
According to the KSU leader, as many as 60 farmers have been affected due to the rampant dumping of soil in their precious agriculture lands.
The KSU leader also alleged that the company had carried out rampant quarrying on the road side which had also affected people.
He said in the past the Union had sent several letters to the Government seeking its intervention, but all efforts went in vain.
After the construction of Shillong Bye-pass, the water canals leading to the paddy fields have also been destroyed thereby leaving many fields without water, said the KSU leader.
Earlier, the Government said that there can be delay in payment of compensation since the National Highway Authority of India was yet to approve the assessment report submitted by the East Khasi Hills district administration.