PEMA Khandu
File photo of Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu. Image - Northeast Now

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Wednesday directed the Chief Secretary and PWD Commissioner to take personal interest in resolving all issues including that of compensation in regards to the Trans-Arunachal Highway (TAH) at Lower Subansiri and Kamle districts so that work on those portions can begin without any hurdle.

Khandu while addressing top officers of State Government during the launch of Chief Minister’s Arogya Arunachal Yojana (CMAAY) here categorically made clear that the State Government would not tolerate any misappropriation of funds and all those found guilty – whoever he or she may be – will not be spared.

The TAH compensation scam which has of late hit the state has already seen the Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) demanding a CBI probe into it.

The Congress leaders had on Tuesday called on chief minister Khandu at his office here and submitted a memorandum apprising him of the multi-crore embezzlement while disbursing compensation to the beneficiaries in the aforementioned portions of TAH.

Besides demanding for a CBI probe into the matter, the Congress has also been demanding for immediate re-assessment of the entire stretch of road and early completion of the project.

Payment of immediate land compensation to the genuine land owners/affected people and arrest of all those involved in the scam were the other demands of the Congress.

The TAH scam case is presently taken up by Special Investigation Cell (SIC) of the State’s Police Department.

The SIC had on July 3 last arrested former Lower Subansiri Deputy Commissioner Kemo Lollen, District Land Revenue and Settlement Officer (DLRSO) Bharat Lingu and businessman Likha Maj for their alleged involvement in the compensation scam in the Joram to Koloriang portion of the TAH.

Earlier, Government spokesperson Bamang Felix while addressing a press conference at the State Secretariat here also assured that, law was taking its own course of action over the matter.

“The State Government will have no second thought to take actions against those who compromise with the development activities. Strict actions will be initiated against the people- whoever he or she may be,” Felix said.

Damien Lepcha is Northeast Now Correspondent in Arunachal Pradesh. He can be reached at: [email protected]

2 replies on “Trans-Arunachal Highway: CM Khandu asks top officials to resolve issues”