The
Shillong Times: Shillong: Friday, 19 December 2014.
All is not
well with the land acquisition process for the much talked about BG Railway
line from Tetelia to Byrnihat with the bone of contention being the alleged
“hush-hush” manner in which the land acquisition process is being carried out.
The Dorbar
Shnong of Lum Nongrim and Ronghana have expressed dismay over the alleged
improper way in which the land acquisition process is being carried out by the
Ri Bhoi Deputy Commissioner depriving the residents of a fair deal.
According to
a communiqué signed by Lum Nongrim secretary Shnong, Albert Lapang and Ronghona
Rangbah Shnong, Amol Ronghang sent to The Shillong Times, the residents of Lum
Nongrim and Ronghona villages of Byrnihat had received a notice in August under
Section 12 (2) of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 with regard to the acquisition
of their lands at Lum Nongrim and Ronghona villages from the Ri Bhoi DC wherein
they were also asked to collect their compensations.
However, the
communiqué stated that the residents of the said villages were in the dark as
far as the land they had parted with and the rate offered for it was concerned.
Subsequently, they protested the deal under Section 18 (2) (b) of Land
Acquisation Act, 1894.
The residents
of the villages are still clueless about the amount of compensation decided by
the district collector and whether the decided amount will compensate for the
plantation (betel nut, orange, guava etc.) the villagers have on the lands to
be acquired for the railway project.
In the
communiqué, Lyngdoh and Ronghang questioned whether Preamble 13 of the Right to
Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and
Resettlement Act, 2013 was followed by the Authority while awarding
compensation to the villagers.
They also
asserted that Section 24 (1) (a) of the Right to Fair Compensation and
Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013
states that where no award under Section 11 of the Land Acquisition, 1894 has
been made, all provisions of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in
land acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 relating to
determination of compensation shall apply.
“In this case
there has been blatant negligence on the part of the concerned authority which
has not followed the statutory requirement relating to the procedure for award
of compensation as laid under the aforesaid Act,” the communiqué maintained.
The
communiqué stated that resettlement and rehabilitation, as provided under the
Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation
and Resettlement Act, 2013, is also part of the compensation which has not been
complied with by the authority.
The
communiqué further alleged that the villagers were denied of their right to
know all of the aforesaid before the notice was issued to them under Section 12
(2) of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894.
The Dorbar
members claimed that the Collector was requested to refer the matter to a
Reference Court of Competent jurisdiction as provided under Section 18 (2) (b)
of Land Acquisition Act, 1894.
The two
village leaders informed that except for a few residents who have taken the
land compensation under protest, none have accepted the compensation in protest
of the shabby deal.
They further
alleged that the Collector has failed to point out the facts the facts to the
Railway Authority that the land under reference, supposedly handed over to the
North East Frontier Railway, have not yet been acquired and compensation are
yet to be paid to the land owners after following due procedure of the Law.
The Collector
has also till date failed to refer the matter to the competent reference court
even after expiry of three months, that is, from 12 September, 2014 the date of
filling protest letter by the residents, they added.
They informed
that, the residents of the two villages have also filed an RTI application
dated 28 November 2014 to know about the whole procedure followed by the
Authority for acquiring the aforesaid land as they were in the dark and the
reply for the same is still awaited.