Govt approves compensation to landowners

SHILLONG: The Meghalaya government has finally given approval for disbursing compensation to landowners whose land and buildings were acquired for constructing the national highway 44E (Shillong-Nongstoin-Tura road).
Nongstoin deputy commissioner Arunkumar Kembhavi in a Facebook post however said out of the three portions, only Nongstoin-Sonapahar portion (1.570-41.60 km) has been approved as of now, amounting to Rs 18.18 crore.
“We will soon start disbursing the cheques to the project-affected families. The other two portions are in advanced stages. They will be completed very soon,” the DC said. Appreciating land owners for patiently waiting two to three years and willingly parting with their land in the national interest, Kembhavi said in some parts of the state, national highway projects get withheld because of the administration’s inability to pay compensation to land owners owing to several formalities.
“But people of West Khasi Hills district are truly progressive with their foresightedness,” he said.
The DC further praised the headmen of all the villages without whose support the project wouldn’t have been completed.
He said there were four more road projects in the district which are in various stages of development.
“Just this week, New Delhi-based private consultants have submitted two final DPRs for Nongstoin-Rambrai-Kyrshai road (69.5 km) and Mawshynrut-Athiabari Road (38 km) which have been pending for five-six years,” he said.
According to the DC, construction would commence once the ministry cleared the detailed project report and alloted the work.
The Nongstoin-Maweit-Nongjri Road (75 km stretch, 56 km in West Khasi Hills district) has been declared a National Highway by the central government recently.
He said the chief engineer (NH) has floated the expression of interest (EoI) for selecting the consultant for DPR preparation.
Meanwhile, he also said the construction work for Nongstoin-Wahkaji-Domiasiat (61.57 km, 15 km in the district) was expected to begin soon after the High Court of Meghalaya disposed the public interest litigation that was pending before the Court. “The district administration is putting all road projects on a fast track,” the DC said.