Staff Reporter
ITANAGAR, Oct 24: Amidst protests by commercial building owners along the National Highway (NH) 415, the district administration has launched eviction drive against the structures that fall under 30 meters of the right of way (RoW) on Wednesday.
In this regard, the Itanagar Commercial Buildings Affected Owners Welfare Association (ICBAOWA), in a press conference on Wednesday, demanded that the state government immediately halt the eviction drive.
The association claimed that the district administration has launched the demolition despite the high court issued a stay order against eviction that was to begin on Tuesday.
The High Court has stayed against eviction order of 14 building owners, while the rest can be evicted.
In a press conference held here at the press club, the ICBAOWA demanded adequate compensation for all the affected structures before the demolition.
The association contested that their structures were already demolished last year after due verification and assessment by the district administration through the chief estate officer.
“We were asked to demolish our own structures and assured adequate compensation would be paid. Accordingly, we did it, but during the disbursement of compensation we were again asked to produce no objection certificate,” claimed Likha Tabin, legal advisor of the association, and a building owner.
The association decried that the district administration is taking undue advantage of the court vacation and alleged that it is defying the high court stay order.
However, the state government and the district administration maintained that the demolition of structures within 30 meters of the RoW is yet to be carried out in some places and no compensation would be paid against the structures falling within 30 meters of the RoW.
Claiming that the district administration is illegally carrying out its eviction drive, ICBAOWA member TC Tok said, “Of course we need roads, but there should be negotiation and dialogue with the affected people. How can the district administration carry out eviction without addressing our demands”.
Saying that there are lapses in the NH 415 road alignment, Tok went on to claim that the centerline was altered and changed in many places.
“The district administration and the state government should come clean with the records and data,” he said.
He also condemned the intention of the All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) in raising the issue, following which the government had to call for one-go eviction drive.
The owners’ association later threatened to stir against the state government and the district administration.
Commenting on the eviction drive, AAPSU general secretary Tobom Dai said, “The union wholeheartedly welcomes the state government’s move and hope the state capital gets a national standard four-lane highway within the stipulated time”.
He also appealed to all the citizens to cooperate with the ongoing eviction drive.
Meanwhile, the Capital Complex district administration has started with the demolition drive on Wednesday to ensure 15 mtrs RoW on both sides of the NH415 and also to verify that the compensated structure have been completely demolished.
This was initiated as per the decision taken by the State Cabinet on 8 October.
In a release the DA informed that eviction drive is being conducted as per procedure and in the most transparent manner and shall continue till Pappu Nallah.
Simultaneously, the DA and PWD Highways have ensured that carpeting work begins immediately and the road work gets expedited to avoid inconvenience to commuters. (With DIPRO inputs)
