Dimapur-Zubza railway project back on track

Meeting between chief minister and landowners manages to end compensation hurdle      Eastern Mirror Desk Dimapur, April 19 (EMN): After a long haul of the rail project between Dimapur and Zubza, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and representatives of six villages namely Dhansiripar, Zutovi, Pimla, Khemnok, Razaphe Basa and Shokhuvi, in a meeting held on April 17 at the CM’s residence in Kohima have agreed to raise compensation by an additional INR 21.25 to the landowners from said six villages which brings the total to INR 50 per square feet. On Thursday reliable sources informed that those landowners wanted the same rate being given by the central government to those at Chumukedima town and neighbouring towns in Assam. “The deputy commissioner (DC) of Dimapur is supposed to have sent the Minutiae of Meeting (MoM) to the central government after which the work will continue once the central government agrees to the amount decided for the six villages,” said the source. When contacted, DC Dimapur Sushil Kumar Patel said that the meeting was successful at deciding a common rate agreed to by both the parties. “There are formalities to be taken up with the central government,” he said when asked how long it will take to restart the work. A landowner of Dhansiripar also spoke to Eastern Mirror and revealed that INR 55 per square feet was initially the expected rate for the acquisition but Rio had already spoken to the then Minister of State in the railway ministry, Rajen Gohain for a total of INR 50 while he was a member of parliament. “The meeting concluded that if INR 55 per square feet is expected then it will further delay the construction of the railway line in these villages,” informed the landowner. “Now we are just waiting for the ban to be lifted so work can start,” he said. Also, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on April 18 evening tweeted about the meeting saying it was productive’ and ‘outstanding issues’ were resolved. “...look forward to people’s support in successful project implementation,” it read.