Shillong, Feb 17: The East Garo Hills district administration has decided to re-survey properties belonging to landowners who have rejected the government’s compensation offer for widening of National Highway 217.
This decision follows an arbitration hearing held at the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Williamnagar on yesterday, where the affected property owners expressed dissatisfaction with the compensation amounts offered.
Officials said that re-verification of their properties would be conducted within the next few days by the Deputy Commissioner (Revenue).
Several property owners claimed that the compensation amounts are inadequate for relocating their businesses.
Shamina N. Sangma, who has been running her family business in Rongjeng Bazar for nearly 30 years, said the offer does not reflect market realities. “The amount of about Rs. 8 lakh being offered as compensation for my three-room shop in Rongjeng Bazar is very small and unreasonable. With this amount, I cannot even think of re-establishing my business at another location. Once the acquisition is completed, the few available properties will cost almost ten times more than earlier rates. How are we supposed to restart our livelihood?” she said.
MG Momin, who runs a commercial store in Rongjeng Bazar, also expressed strong dissatisfaction. “I feel this compensation is very cheap and a betrayal. With Rs. 6 lakh, my family and I will be ruined. We will lose our only source of livelihood,” Momin said.
Garo social activist Cherian G. Momin has raised concerns regarding the legality and fairness of the compensation process. He argues that it contradicts the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 (RFCTLARR Act, 2013), which mandates a solatium of 100 per cent of the market value for landowners.
Momin pointed out discrepancies in the detailed project report (DPR) for the NH217 project, alleging that the approved plan did not include land acquisitions in Rongjeng due to the high costs involved. He argued that any such deviation from the approved DPR would require a revised DPR with fresh approval, environmental clearance, public consultation, and budget reallocation before implementation.
Affected residents have urged the district administration to reassess the valuation process and ensure compliance with the approved DPR and statutory provisions before proceeding further with the land acquisition.
