Aizawl, October 27 (IANS) — In an unprecedented move, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has agreed to compensate two claimants for the same land to facilitate the construction of a key four-lane highway between Vairengte and Sairang in Mizoram, officials announced on Sunday. This resolution follows a crucial meeting between Mizoram’s Chief Minister and Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari in Delhi.
The proposed 132 km highway, a critical link between Mizoram’s capital and the rest of India, will connect Vairengte near the Assam border with Sairang close to Aizawl. Currently, connectivity relies on the double-lane National Highway-306 via Assam. Progress on the new highway was stalled for years due to a longstanding compensation dispute between two landowners and the state’s Forest Department over the same parcel of land.
The Chief Minister confirmed that both land claimants and the state’s Environment, Forests, and Climate Change Department will receive compensation from the Central government. Specifically, the Forest Department will be allocated Rs 90 crore, while the two landowners will collectively receive Rs 110 crore.
The road project faced delays not only from ownership disputes but also due to challenges in securing necessary forest clearances. The Supreme Court had previously instructed the Mizoram Chief Secretary to seek alternative solutions to progress the highway’s construction.
Despite there being no precedent for dual compensation on conflicting land claims, the Chief Minister successfully appealed to Minister Gadkari to authorize payments to both parties. This financial resolution marks a significant step towards initiating the long-overdue highway project, promising to enhance connectivity and development prospects for the region. The move underlines the Union government’s commitment to resolving infrastructural hindrances and fostering regional growth.
Original Story https://www.morungexpress.com/in-a-first-centre-to-provide-compensation-to-two-mizoram-landowners-for-same-land-plots
Category : North-East
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Publish Date: 2024-10-27 16:40:00
