Aizawl: The Kaladan multi-modal transport project in southern Mizoram has hit a roadblock as residents of Lawngtlai-III in Lawngtlai town demanded clearance of compensation for their cemetery affected by the project.
The residents on Saturday fenced the cemetery to show that they would not allow the road work to go on until their compensation is cleared by the government, even as officials assured them that the compensation was being processed.
Lawngtlai district deputy commissioner B Lalhmingthanga said the compensation for the affected tombstones had been cleared. However, as there was fresh claims from a person who claimed to own a land inside the cemetery, disbursement of the compensation had to be delayed.
The DC sent the subordinates to discuss the situation with the residents on Saturday but it did not yield any positive results.
The Kaladan project envisages an upgradation of the Sittwe port on the southwestern coast of Myanmar and development of a 225km-long waterway between the port of Sittwe and Setpyitpyin (Kaletwa) in Myanmar along the Kaladan, which flows from Mizoram.
Given the non-navigability of the river from Setpyitpyin, the project also involves construction of a 62km road network from Setpyitpyin to Lawngtlai, where the road will merge with the National Highway 54. The project is expected to be completed by 2011-2012. (UNI)
