Shillong: The Achik State Peoples’ Front (ASPF) filed a formal complaint with the East Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner today. They claim the reconstruction of the Williamnagar to Darugre stretch of NH-44 is unplanned and exploitative. Work crews have pushed past property lines, forcing their way onto private land. Police are allegedly using intimidation tactics to silence landowners trying to check on their own property.
Construction work is wrecking the local environment. Illegal stone extraction and blasting have hit farmlands and local plantations, including arecanut crops. Debris from the project is washing into fields and ruining the soil. The ASPF described the situation as “unplanned, exploitative, and unjust” in their petition to the district administration.
Labor practices remain a major sticking point. Many migrant workers on the site lack the required permits or No Objection Certificates from local Nokmas. Tension boiled over in Rongre after a migrant worker allegedly assaulted a local woman. The ASPF also flagged safety issues regarding labor camps, noting some are built inside protected forest reserves without any legal clearance.
The group wants the administration to launch a joint survey to mark proper boundaries and verify land theft. They demand immediate compensation for those affected by the blasting and debris. Officials must also inspect all worker permits and tear down the unauthorized camps along the highway.
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