The Mizoram Public Works Department has initiated the distribution of Rs 7.4 crore in additional compensation to 185 landowners who were affected by the construction of the Aizawl bypass road connecting Sihhmui and Muallungthu, according to official sources.
Disbursement Timeline and Context
This supplementary compensation is being disbursed directly through the project implementation unit of the PWD. Officials expect the entire payment process to conclude by October 23. This development follows closely on the heels of an ultimatum issued by the Aizawl Bypass Road Western Side Landowners Welfare Association, which had threatened to halt all road construction activities starting November 1 if their demands were left unmet.
Financial Breakdown and Previous Installments
The association had specifically pressed for the release of the Rs 7.4 crore compensation before the end of October while demanding enhanced transparency in how payments are disbursed. To facilitate this phase, the PWD has sanctioned a total of Rs 13.3 crore for supplementary compensation. The department had previously rolled out the first installment of compensation back in December of last year.
Project Background and Stated Grievances
Being implemented under the PM-DevINE scheme, the bypass initiative has encountered several hurdles, including local objections regarding compensation payouts, land acquisition, and utilization concerns. On October 6, the association pointed out that roughly 348 individuals faced land acquisition impacts along the Sihhmui-Muallungthu corridor, alleging irregularities and a general lack of transparency in the administration of compensation funds.
Discrepancies and Additional Demands
The association highlighted notable discrepancies between official PWD figures and information received through Right to Information queries. While official data suggested that only 17 beneficiaries were pending payments, the association asserted that more than 100 landowners were still awaiting their dues. Consequently, they urged the department to publish a comprehensive list of all beneficiaries alongside the exact amounts disbursed to each individual, while also calling for prompt land measurements for those opting for Land Settlement Certificates instead of cash.
Quarry Claims and Environmental Concerns
Further demands raised by the collective included resolving compensation claims for local stone quarry owners impacted by the project, ensuring proper disposal of excavated earth at designated dumping zones, and providing adequate compensation for plantations and crops damaged by soil dumping or landslides.
