Guwahati: A seven-member committee began re-verifying land compensation for Arunachal Pradesh’s Lada-Sarli Frontier Highway project on Wednesday, amid close public scrutiny.
The reassessment is being conducted for each package of the highway, which has been involved in a land compensation scam.
The teams for Packages 1 and 2, led by Chairman and Additional Deputy Commissioner of Likabali, Mokar Riba, started from 14.600 km at Eyu Anung, near Rapung village, along the Bichom and East Kameng districts.
The team includes gaon buras, affected landowners, activists, a civil police officer, and 13 personnel from the Central Reserve Battalion to ensure a smooth and secure process.
The 30-kilometre stretch of Packages 1 and 2 proved challenging. On the first day, the team managed to measure only 1.5 km. “Although we walked more than 8 km, the area we could officially measure is just over one kilometre. The terrain is very tough and difficult,” Riba said.
He added that the next day, the team would resume from the previous stopping point and hoped to progress faster once they reached areas closer to the PMGSY road, where the terrain is gentler.
Meanwhile, the Package 3 and 4 teams, led by SDO Hunli Rakesh Tacho, also began reassessment on Wednesday, starting from Pakke Camp, the starting point of Package 3.
Deputy Commissioner Yashwini visited Packages 3 and 5, the latter being led by ADC Rupa Lobsang Tsetan, which commenced from 85.60 km at Kaung Gabing Yangfo under the Chayang Tajo administrative circle.
The state had earlier set up three seven-member committees to re-assess the highway project after allegations of irregularities in land compensation surfaced.
Local organizations such as the East Kameng Social Welfare & Cultural Organisation, the All Nyishi Youth Association (East Kameng district unit), and activists Sol Dodum and Adv.
Sunday Bagang have been demanding a thorough re-verification and the immediate arrest of those involved in the scam.
The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has so far arrested four people connected to the case, including DLRSO Takam Kechak, broker Rajo Gyadi, Yayo Yangfo, and Khya Byagang.