Staff Reporter

ITANAGAR :  The All Arunachal RTI Activist Association, Bichom District Unit (AARTIAA-BDU), on Monday alleged large-scale corruption in the payment of land compensation to Project Affected Families (PAFs) and land alignments under Frontier Highway NH-913 Package-1 in Bichom district, and demanded immediate re-verification of the land.

Addressing a press conference at the Arunachal Press Club, AARTIAA-BDU president Sangcho Zongluju alleged that local legislator Dongru Siongju and the deputy commissioner of the district were involved in irregularities related to land compensation and land alignments under the project.

Zongluju appealed to Union Minister Kiren Rijiju to conduct a ground verification of the alleged irregularities in land compensation and alignments under Frontier Highway NH-913 Package-1 to assess the extent of alleged misuse of funds.

He also requested Union Minister Rijiju and Chief Minister Pema Khandu to issue an order allowing the association to conduct a re-verification of land compensation and land alignments under the project in Bichom district.

Zongluju informed that the association had submitted a representation to all concerned authorities on February 2, 2026, seeking an independent and time-bound inquiry by a competent authority into the alleged irregularities. However, he claimed that no response has been received so far.

The association further demanded physical re-verification of land under Frontier Highway NH-913 Package-1, along with mandatory permission for AARTIAA-BDU members to remain present during the verification process.

Among other demands, the association sought verification of the sanctioned highway alignment with the locations for which compensation has already been paid, immediate suspension of further compensation disbursement until completion of the re-verification process, recovery of alleged illegal payments made so far, and strict action against officials and individuals found responsible for the irregularities.

Zongluju further stated that the association had earlier lodged a complaint with the State Anti-Corruption Bureau regarding the alleged large-scale corruption in land compensation under the project, but alleged that no investigation has been initiated till date.

“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,” he said.

He further warned that the association would launch a series of democratic movements in the district if the state government fails to address the demand for re-verification of land compensation under Frontier Highway NH-913 Package-1 at the earliest.