Staff Reporter

ITANAGAR : The All Arunachal RTI Activist Association, Bichom District Unit (AARTIAA-BDU) on Friday expressed concern over the alleged delay by the state government in initiating an investigation into purported large-scale irregularities in the payment of land compensation to Project Affected Families (PAFs) and land alignments under Frontier Highway NH-913 Package-2 in Bichom district.

Addressing a press conference at the Arunachal Press Club here, AARTIAA-BDU president Sangcho Zongluju alleged that despite repeated representations submitted to the concerned authorities in February and May this year, seeking an independent and time-bound inquiry into the matter, no action has been initiated so far.

He claimed that the association had also lodged a complaint with the State Anti-Corruption Bureau regarding the alleged irregularities in land compensation under the project, but asserted that no investigation has been launched till date.

Zongluju further alleged that instead of initiating a probe, local MLA Dongru Siongju has filed a defamation case against the association over the allegations.

According to the association’s memorandum and complaint, allegations have been made against the local legislator and the deputy commissioner of the district over purported irregularities in land compensation and highway alignments under Frontier Highway NH-913 Package-2.

Appealing to Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, Zongluju sought a ground re-verification of the alleged irregularities in land compensation and highway alignments to ascertain the extent of the alleged misuse of public funds. He also demanded immediate action against all individuals found involved in the alleged corruption.

He further requested Union Minister Rijiju and Chief Minister Pema Khandu to permit the association to participate in the re-verification of land compensation and highway alignments under the project in Bichom district.

Among its demands, the association called for a physical re-verification of land under Frontier Highway NH-913 Package-2 with the presence of AARTIAA-BDU representatives during the verification process. It also sought verification of the sanctioned highway alignment against the locations for which compensation has already been disbursed, immediate suspension of further compensation payments until completion of the verification, recovery of any alleged illegal payments, and stringent action against officials and individuals found responsible for the alleged irregularities.

“We are here on behalf of the project-affected families. Any attempt to ignore, delay or suppress this issue will only deepen public distrust in the administration,” Zongluju said.

He further warned that the association would launch a series of democratic agitations in the district if the government fails to initiate the re-verification process at the earliest.