By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The controversy over the Umsning bypass in the Jorabat-Umiam four laning project seems to have no end even as the project is already running behind schedule.
Continuing its opposition to the bypass from Umsning, the Ri-Bhoi Students Union pointed out on Thursday that the office of the executive engineer PWD (Roads) National Highway division has clearly stated in its letter dated Shillong 14/06/2004 that 75 feet or 23 metres from the centre line, making 150 feet on both sides of the main National Highway, which is an area bigger than what is needed for the construction of the fourlane, falls under the government land and the latter has every right to use the land for any purpose.
“This means that the government had already acquired the required land for the fourlaning along the NH-40. Hence the decision of the authorities that the fourlane should go through a bypass in Umsning has some ulterior motives,” RBSU president Tyngshainlang Lapang said.
The RBSU also said that a letter dated Nongpoh February 1, 2012 of the fact finding report clearly shows that majority of the landowners are in favour of the introduction of the four lane road from the existing NH-40.
The RBSU also alleged that the government notification issued with regards to land acquired from the landowners for the Umsning bypass was never done in a transparent manner since the exact area required from land each landowner was never mentioned.
The controversy over the bypass has even reached the court where the matter is being heard.
Earlier, the State Government had planned to construct the four-lane road from the existing Umsning road but it was opposed by the NGOs who resorted to agitation, forcing the Government to decide in favour of construction of the road from the Umsning Bypass.
The RBSU also said that as per section 11A of the Land Acquisition Act 1894, it clearly mentions that the collector shall award compensation within a period of two years from the date of publication of the declaration and if no award is made within that period,
The four-laning of NH-40 from Jorabat to Umiam, covering 61.8 km at an estimated cost of Rs 536 crore started at a brisk pace but hit a stumbling block after the NGOs and Government landed in a scuffle over the acquisition of land from Umsning Bypass.