IMPHAL, May 20 : A twin public hearing on land acquisition for the Jiribam-Tupul-Imphal railway project was held at Kambiron Youth Club and Okoklong community hall in Tamenglong district yesterday under the aegis of the Social Impact Assessment Unit (SIAU), Manipur on May 18.
The public hearing held at Kambiron was attended by SIAU Manipur in-charge Dr T Brajakumar, SIAU Manipur panel expert member Md Abdul Salam and affected land owners.
Speaking at the gathering, many land owners, while welcoming the railway project, pointed out that the same project has affected large tracts of agricultural lands and homesteads.
They expressed keen desire for the Government to give due compensation and take up other rehabilitation measures without undue delay.
Dr T Brajakumar and Md Abdul Salam were seated on the dais at the public hearing held at Okoklong too.
There, the villagers urged the authority concerned to expedite and complete the land acquisition process.
They also urged the Government to compensate all the affected land owners adequately and re-plant trees and crops affected by the railway project as soon as possible.
The villagers further expressed keen desire to construct community halls and playgrounds.
In connection with the public hearing, Dr T Brajakumar told media persons that land acquisition was done under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act 2013.
He said that the public hearing was held to elicit opinions of affected land owners.
Opinions and suggestions shared by affected people would be discussed with experts and the same would be incorporated prominently in compiling Social Impact Assessment report and formulating Social Impact Management Plan, Dr Brajakumar added.
Source: The Sangai Express