Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Kohima: The Union government gave Nagaland the green light to acquire land for the widening of National Highway 202 using the Nagaland Land (Requisition and Acquisition) Act of 1965. Deputy Chief Minister T R Zeliang confirmed the decision Wednesday following a meeting with senior officials from the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways in New Delhi.
This move resolves a standoff regarding which law governs land acquisition in the state. Officials debated between the central National Highways Act of 1956 and the state’s 1965 legislation. Nagaland officials insisted on their own law, citing Article 371(A) which protects Naga customary law and land ownership. The state government had expressed clear reservations about using the central act.
The ministry also agreed to accept the existing Detailed Project Report for NH 202. Zeliang noted the ministry will allow the state to fix technical gaps rather than hiring new consultants. "The decision will also avoid the appointment of a new DPR consultant, which could have necessitated fresh surveys and delayed the project by several months," Zeliang said.
This highway work targets Tuensang, Shamator, and Kiphire districts. These areas suffer from poor road conditions. The ministry also reviewed upgrade proposals for NH 329A, NH 702A, and the Foothill Road during the same meeting.
Comments