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Meghalaya Clears ₹268 Crore Land Compensation for Highway Projects

Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong informed the State Assembly that over ₹268 crore in land compensation has been processed and paid for National Highway projects in North and East Garo Hills districts. The compensation, disbursed to 2,414 beneficiaries, covers landowners affected in terms of land, structures, trees, and crops. While the majority of the process is complete, MLA Rupert Momin raised concerns about eligible families still excluded from the list. Tynsong acknowledged a few unresolved cases, primarily involving arbitration for landowners dissatisfied with the assessment or rates.

Key Points: Meghalaya Disburses ₹268 Crore Highway Land Compensation

  • ₹268+ crore disbursed
  • 2,414 beneficiaries compensated
  • Covers land, structures, crops
  • 93-94% process complete
  • Few cases under arbitration
2 min read

Meghalaya cleared Rs 268 crore as land compensation for highway projects: Deputy CM

Deputy CM Prestone Tynsong says ₹268+ crore paid to 2,414 beneficiaries for NH projects in Garo Hills, with a few cases pending arbitration.

"nearly 93 to 94 per cent of the land compensation process has already been completed - Prestone Tynsong"

Shillong, Feb 19

Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister, Prestone Tynsong, on Thursday stated that land compensation amounting to more than Rs 268 crore has been processed and disbursed for National Highway construction projects in North Garo Hills and East Garo Hills districts.

Replying to a question in the State Assembly, Tynsong said compensation has been paid to a total of 2,414 beneficiaries across the two districts.

In North Garo Hills, 187 beneficiaries have received compensation amounting to Rs 43,96,924, while in East Garo Hills, a much larger sum of Rs 225,13,52,897.31 has been disbursed to 2,227 beneficiaries.

The Deputy Chief Minister stated that the compensation package covers landowners whose land, structures, trees and crops were affected due to the National Highway projects.

He added that the process has largely been completed and handed over to the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) to facilitate construction work.

Raising a supplementary question, Kharkutta MLA Rupert Momin pointed out that while several beneficiaries who received compensation were satisfied and had utilised the funds to purchase land or construct houses, many others with valid land documents were still excluded from the compensation list.

He sought clarity on whether such families could reapply and be considered for compensation.

Responding to the concern, Tynsong said that nearly 93 to 94 per cent of the land compensation process has already been completed.

However, he acknowledged that grievances persist in a few stretches where landowners are dissatisfied with the assessment carried out by the district administration.

"In North Garo Hills, only four cases remain unresolved. Three cases are currently under consideration by the arbitrator, while one case involves a dispute among landowners," the Deputy Chief Minister said.

He expressed confidence that these issues would be resolved in the near future.

Tynsong further clarified that landowners who are dissatisfied with the compensation rates determined by the district authorities have the right to submit a petition. Such cases, he said, would be addressed by a government-notified arbitrator in accordance with existing provisions.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priyanka N
Rs 268 crore is a huge amount! While it's positive that money is reaching people, the article points out a key issue – many with valid documents are still left out. The process needs to be more transparent and inclusive. The gap between 93% completion and 100% justice is where problems fester.
A
Aman W
National Highways in the Northeast are crucial for connectivity and economic growth. 🛣️ Disbursing compensation is the first step to gaining public trust for such projects. Hope the new roads bring prosperity to Garo Hills.
S
Sneha F
The difference in average payout is striking. North Garo Hills: ~Rs 2.35 lakh per beneficiary. East Garo Hills: ~Rs 1.01 crore per beneficiary? That seems like a massive disparity. Is it because of land value or property size? More clarity needed on how these rates are decided.
R
Robert G
Having an arbitrator for disputes is a good provision. Land acquisition is always sensitive. It's important that people have a proper channel to appeal if they feel the assessment was unfair. The government seems to be following due process here.
K
Kriti O
Respectfully, the Deputy CM's confidence is good, but the MLA's question highlights the real ground issue. "Valid documents but excluded" – this is a common problem across states. The system often fails the most vulnerable. Hope they create a simple re-application process for those left out.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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