Assam: Villagers protest in Haflong for land compensation affected by highway construction
Haflong: Residents from 28 villages in Assam's Dima Hasao district staged a protest on Tuesday demanding compensation for land impacted by the construction of National Highway-27 (NH-27) between Nrimbanglo and Harangajao in Haflong. The affected villages lie along the highway.
The protest, led by Indigenous Students Forum (ISF), Indigenous Women Forum (IWF), and NHAI Affected People's Forum, concluded after receiving assurances from Debananda Daulagupu, Principal Secretary of the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council (NCHAC) and chairman of the Damage Assessment Committee (DAC).
Daulagupu promised to release the compensation amount within a few days.
While the assessment of land damage is complete, and paperwork is finalized, a final meeting with the DAC and villagers is scheduled before sending the proposal to the Chief Minister's office for approval.
A total of 805 families from 29 villages (excluding one already compensated under Right of Way) await compensation.
The controversy surrounds land impacted by the dumping of excess soil during highway construction.
Villagers claim damages for over a decade. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) initially denied responsibility as they didn't acquire the land specifically for dumping.
Consequently, the Assam government stepped in to bear the compensation cost, estimated at Rs. 22 crore.
The NH-27 project, envisioned by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee as part of the East-West Corridor connecting Silchar in Assam to Saurashtra in Gujarat, was announced in 1998. Construction began in 2004, with a 2007 completion target for the 3,300 km long road.
While construction is complete in most parts of the country, two crucial stretches remain unfinished: Nrimbanglo-Jatinga (approx. 24.6 km) and Jatinga-Harangajao (approx. 24.6 km), totaling 49.23 km. Work on these sections is currently underway.