From Our Correspondent
TURA, Jan 13: A resident of Upper Rongkhon in Tura has accused the West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner as well as other officials of illegally carrying out National Highway expansion works on private land, even before a hearing on the matter was to take place shortly.
According to the resident, Dr Philetus Marak, the hearing on the matter was scheduled for February 7 and all works on the NH expansion within the said private land should have been put on hold till then.
“On January 12, around 1:30 PM, the West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner and his deputies have forcefully executed the earth work from my private land located along the National Highway 51 at Upper Rongkhon area in spite of the High Court’s order, which was stayed until February 7, 2025, for hearing. “The undemocratic and forceful entering upon the private land without informing the land owner or without payment of any compensation to the stakeholders tantamount to dishonouring of the court’s order and violation of relevant rules or law, which can attract contempt in the eye of law,” said Marak, in a release.
Work on the widening of the national highway is going on in full swing in the area for the last couple of months with many affected residents voicing their opposition to the move. The ongoing work has even resulted in the partial demolition of some concrete homes located along the stretch.