The Trans-Arunachal Highway (TAH) compensation scam, which led to the arrest of former Lower Subansiri deputy commissioner Kemo Lollen and the suspension of several government officials, is again making news. Education Minister MLA Taba Tedir on Monday directed the Lower Subansiri deputy commissioner to “start the process to recover Rs 41 crore from the fake beneficiaries of the TAH compensation scam.” Reportedly, the fact-finding committee constituted by the state government recommended recovering the excess payments made to fake beneficiaries. The majority of the people who allegedly benefitted from fake compensation belong to Yachuli constituency, and Tedir is its MLA.
Therefore, his making a public statement, directing DC to start the recovery process from fake beneficiaries is a welcome step. The Lower Subansiri district administration should start the process by observing all legality. It is time the genuinely affected people should be paid their dues. There are many whose structures have been affected by the construction of the TAH but were denied compensation. The TAH compensation, which rocked the state a few years ago, has damaged the image of the state at the national level. The government of India started to doubt all the compensation packages prepared by the state government.
The Lower Subansiri administration will create history if it manages to recover Rs 41 crore from the fake beneficiaries. It has the opportunity to create history and correct the mistakes of previous officials.