Activist Sol Dodum’s allegation that the Lada-Sarli Frontier Highway land compensation scam is mired in corruption needs to be taken seriously, and a proper investigation must be launched by the investigative agencies concerned. He has stated that the anomalies exposed in Packages 4 and 5 of the Frontier Highway are only a small part of a much larger corruption network.
The allegations include inflated compensation for a makeshift structure in Packages 4 and 5, which allegedly received Rs 1.15 crore. This incident went viral on social media, raising serious concerns about fraud. Dodum has also alleged irregular compensation claims, pointing out that in Package 2, names of individuals who do not own any land were included in the compensation list, indicating the presence of fake beneficiaries.
He further alleged a major misappropriation of funds, citing a case where a landowner was supposed to receive Rs 2.30 crore but received only Rs 30 lakh. The remaining amount was allegedly diverted, with claims that it would be shared among political leaders, including the chief minister and an MLA. This is a serious allegation in itself. The DLRSO allegedly asked the landowner to submit a blank cheque, which was misused to divert the remaining compensation amount.
The call for a special investigation to probe all compensation packages – not just Packages 4 and 5 – is valid and must be acted upon. While DLRSO Takam Kechak is under scrutiny, only a proper investigation will uncover the full extent of the scam, which has reportedly been ongoing for months.
Although the state government has formed a fact-finding committee and conducted a spot verification at Package 5, this alone is not sufficient. The case must be investigated thoroughly and transparently to ensure accountability and restore public trust.