Arunachal: Re-examination of land claims acquired for Frontier Highway begins
Guwahati: A seven-member committee on Wednesday began re-examining land compensation for the Lada-Sarli Frontier Highway Project in Arunachal Pradesh. This work is being conducted amid intense public scrutiny.
Each package of the highway, which has been involved in a land compensation scam, is being re-examined.
Teams for Packages 1 and 2, led by Likabali Chairman and Additional Deputy Commissioner Mokar Riba, began covering a distance of 14,600 km from Iu Anung near Rapung village, along the Bichom and East Kameng districts.
The team includes Buras from the village, affected landowners, activists, a civil police officer, and 13 personnel from the Central Reserve Battalion to ensure a smooth and safe process.
The 30-kilometer stretch of Packages 1 and 2 proved difficult. On the first day, the team was able to cover only 1.5 km. “Although we walked over 8 km, we could only officially measure over a kilometer. The terrain is very difficult and inaccessible,” Riba said.
He added that the next day, the team will resume from the previous stopping point and hope to move faster after reaching areas near the PMGSY road, where the terrain is softer.
Meanwhile, teams from Packages 3 and 4, led by SDO Hunli Rakesh Tacho, also began reassessment on Wednesday from Package 3’s starting point, Pucca Camp.
Deputy Commissioner Yashwini visited Packages 3 and 5, the last of which, led by ADC Rupa Lobsang Tsetan, began at Km 85.60 in Kaung Gabing Yangpho under the Chayang Tajo Administrative Circle.
The state had previously formed three seven-member committees to reassess the highway project after allegations of irregularities in land compensation surfaced.
Local organizations such as the East Kameng Social Welfare and Cultural Organization, the All Nyishi Youth Association (East Kameng District Unit), and activists Sol Dodam and Advocate Sunday Bagang are demanding a thorough reinvestigation and immediate arrest of those involved in the scam. The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has so far arrested four people in connection with the case, including DLRSO Takam Kechak, broker Rajo Gyadi, Yayo Yangpho, and Khya Byagang.
