Shillong: The Civil Society Welfare Organisation is crying foul over the proposed Umiam to Silchar high-speed corridor. Corruption claims are spreading fast. CSWO general secretary Christabell Wanniang flagged irregularities in land compensation payouts for the 166.8km four-lane highway project. The National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited manages the Rs 22,864 crore project.
Wanniang focused her probe on Umeit village after receiving tips from locals. She claims village headman Phrandingstar Malngiang listed five plots of land for compensation that he does not actually own. These spots were reportedly donated by locals for a village road and sit under the control of the Umeit Dorbar Shnong.
"What concerns me is how the village headman could have put his name forward for land compensation," Wanniang said. She suspects residents are in the dark while the headman potentially violates his Sanad conditions.
The group fears this is just the tip of the iceberg. Wanniang warned that officials, local leaders, and middlemen might be padding their pockets, citing similar graft in the Shillong Western Bypass project. She is now demanding fresh hearings and a full audit of land records along the entire Meghalaya stretch. If authorities stay silent, the organization plans to escalate the case to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways in New Delhi.
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