From Our Correspondent
TURA, Sep 11: The A’chik State People’s Front (ASPF) has shot off a letter to the Managing Director of National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), alleging the unplanned, exploitative and unjust highway expansion work along the Rongram-Goeragre-Chitoktak road, which it claimed has caused injustice, harassment and suffering for the people of the region.
ASPF general secretary Bernita R Marak accused the authorities of unjust land acquisition and inadequate compensation, stating that landowners were paid far below market value, while many have not been paid at all.
She further alleged that contractors exceeded the measured boundaries and dug out land illegally, worsening the plight of families who had already sacrificed their land.
Marak claimed that villagers were being bullied and intimidated. “Contractors and workers are bullying villagers, showing total disrespect for their rights. Landowners are barred from monitoring their own land during construction, and police are called to intimidate them. NHIDCL representatives have allegedly threatened to abandon the project if the Government intervenes in favour of people’s rights. Is NHIDCL a foreign entity or an Indian institution? Is Garo Hills not part of India? Why then are the people of this region being exploited in their own country?” she questioned.
She also criticised the quality of work, pointing out that already pitched roads were dug up again, leaving projects incomplete while new stretches were opened elsewhere. This, she said, caused severe inconvenience to commuters, with school children, employees and patients facing unnecessary delays.
Other anomalies highlighted included the absence of retaining walls leading to landslides at Duragre, Chasingre, Rongkhon and Chitoktak; poor drainage systems; substandard culverts and widespread public harassment.
In her complaint, Marak demanded immediate and fair compensation for all landowners, rectification of faulty construction, accountability for contractors accused of harassment and the building of proper retaining walls, drainage systems, culverts and safety barricades.
Stressing that landowners must be recognised as stakeholders and not treated as obstacles in development projects, she called for respect for the rights and dignity of the people of Garo Hills.