Thursday, March 28, 2024
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All is not well with land acquisition process

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Tetelia to Byrnihat rail project

NONGPOH: All is not well with the land acquisition process for the much talked about BG Railway line from Tetelia to Byrnihat with the bone of contention being the alleged “hush-hush” manner in which the land acquisition process is being carried out.

The Dorbar Shnong of Lum Nongrim and Ronghana have expressed dismay over the alleged improper way in which the land acquisition process is being carried out by the Ri Bhoi Deputy Commissioner depriving the residents of a fair deal.

According to a communiqué signed by Lum Nongrim secretary Shnong, Albert Lapang and Ronghona Rangbah Shnong, Amol Ronghang sent to The Shillong Times, the residents of Lum Nongrim and Ronghona villages of Byrnihat had received a notice in August under Section 12 (2) of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 with regard to the acquisition of their lands at Lum Nongrim and Ronghona villages from the Ri Bhoi DC wherein they were also asked to collect their compensations.

However, the communiqué stated that the residents of the said villages were in the dark as far as the land they had parted with and the rate offered for it was concerned. Subsequently, they protested the deal under Section 18 (2) (b) of Land Acquisation Act, 1894.

The residents of the villages are still clueless about the amount of compensation decided by the district collector and whether the decided amount will compensate for the plantation (betel nut, orange, guava etc.) the villagers have on the lands to be acquired for the railway project.

In the communiqué, Lyngdoh and Ronghang questioned whether Preamble 13 of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 was followed by the Authority while awarding compensation to the villagers.

They also asserted that Section 24 (1) (a) of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 states that where no award under Section 11 of the Land Acquisition, 1894 has been made, all provisions of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in land acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 relating to determination of compensation shall apply.

“In this case there has been blatant negligence on the part of the concerned authority which has not followed the statutory requirement relating to the procedure for award of compensation as laid under the aforesaid Act,” the communiqué maintained.

The communiqué stated that resettlement and rehabilitation, as provided under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, is also part of the compensation which has not been complied with by the authority.

The communiqué further alleged that the villagers were denied of their right to know all of the aforesaid before the notice was issued to them under Section 12 (2) of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894.

The Dorbar members claimed that the Collector was requested to refer the matter to a Reference Court of Competent jurisdiction as provided under Section 18 (2) (b) of Land Acquisition Act, 1894.

The two village leaders informed that except for a few residents who have taken the land compensation under protest, none have accepted the compensation in protest of the shabby deal.

They further alleged that the Collector has failed to point out the facts the facts to the Railway Authority that the land under reference, supposedly handed over to the North East Frontier Railway, have not yet been acquired and compensation are yet to be paid to the land owners after following due procedure of the Law.

The Collector has also till date failed to refer the matter to the competent reference court even after expiry of three months, that is, from 12 September, 2014 the date of filling protest letter by the residents, they added.

They informed that, the residents of the two villages have also filed an RTI application dated 28 November 2014 to know about the whole procedure followed by the Authority for acquiring the aforesaid land as they were in the dark and the reply for the same is still awaited.

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