The State government has sought two weeks’ time to file its affidavit regarding the encumbrances with regard to land acquisition for the Shillong-Dawki road widening project.
During today’s hearing of a PIL on the matter, Additional Advocate General K Khan requested the division bench of Chief Justice I P Mukerji and Justice Wanlura Diengdoh to give him two weeks to file the affidavit.
While granting his request, the High Court listed the matter for hearing on November 7 and directed the State government to file its status report at the next hearing.
Recently, Dr. Nitesh Mozika, Deputy Solicitor General appearing on behalf of the National Highway Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL) informed the High Court through an affidavit that some encumbrances still remain with regard to the handing over of land in two stretches, Pynursla being one.
The 90 km Shillong-Dawki road project has five packages. The road project is funded by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) at an estimated cost of Rs 1377.5 crore.
The project has already missed its completion deadline of December 2022 due to issues of land acquisition, forest clearance and delay to shift power lines and water pipelines.
The NHIDCL had stated that the alignment of Pynursla by-pass could not be finalised due to objections raised by local people.
