BOMDILA, Oct 7: A coordination meeting was held here on Tuesday to resolve issues delaying the widening of around 2.3 km of the National Highway at Elephant Flat and Sessa between Chainage Km 50 and Km 70.
The widening works have remained pending primarily over payment of land compensation and the status of certain land parcels in the vicinity of Reserved Forest areas.
The meeting, held at the Deputy Commissioner’s Conference Hall, was attended by Thrizino-Buragaon MLA Tenzin Nyima Glow, West Kameng Deputy Commissioner Dr Dilip Kumar, APMDTCC Vice-Chairman Labi Dususow, 14 BRTF Commander Sunil Kumar, Khellong DFO Suman Beniwal, AC Bhalukpong A Pangging and 91 RCC Officer Commanding Ujjwal Vishnoi. Bhalukpong ZPM Pema Jebisow, PRI representatives, community leaders and residents from Bhalukpong, Sessa and Jamiri also participated.
Community representatives raised concerns over non-payment of compensation to eligible landowners and the status of certain forest areas. They said local communities have traditionally depended on the land for cultivation and commercial production of banana, pineapple and bamboo shoot.
The DC sought the cooperation of community leaders, PRI members and residents of Jamiri, Elephant Flat and Sessa to facilitate completion of the pending works. He said the road was of strategic importance and stressed that timely completion and regular maintenance were essential for road safety, connectivity and national security.
MLA Glow and APMDTCC Vice-Chairman Dususow said no fresh earth cutting or removal of existing infrastructure should be undertaken until the land-status issue is resolved. However, they suggested that metalling and blacktopping of the existing road could be allowed wherever feasible to improve road conditions and safety.
Community representatives assured the meeting that they would deliberate on the issues within their respective villages and reconsider their position with a view to facilitating an early resolution and completion of the pending road works. (DIPRO)