Compensation dispute unresolved; landowners allow vehicle passage as goodwill gesture
Aggrieved landowners affected by the ongoing Kohima-Jessami 2-lane road construction project have announced a temporary relaxation of the total blockade on National Highway 29, allowing public vehicles to pass through the affected stretch of the highway.
According to a statement issued by the landowners, the decision follows the intervention of the Deputy Commissioner of Phek, Chakhesang Public Organisation (CPO), and Chakhesang Mothers’ Association (CMA). Describing it as a “gesture of goodwill towards commuters and the local community,” the landowners said the move was aimed at easing public hardship.
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However, the landowners clarified that “all activities and works related to the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) shall remain blocked until a positive solution is achieved in the ongoing compensation dispute.”
They stressed that no construction or development work under NHIDCL will be permitted until the compensation issue is resolved.
The statement underlined that “the relaxation of the blockade for public convenience signifies the landowners’ commitment to peaceful protests and their consideration for the welfare of the community.” While traffic movement resumes for the general public, the landowners remain “firm in their demand for fair and timely compensation for the damages inflicted on their properties.”
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They further expressed appreciation to the Deputy Commissioner of Phek for facilitating communication and urged “all stakeholders to engage constructively towards a mutually satisfactory resolution.” Reiterating their position, the landowners stated they “remain dedicated to advocating for their rights and ensuring that justice prevails in the compensation matter.”
