JONAI, June 18 � A public hearing on �Social Impact Assessment� on the Phase-I work (from 2.60 km to 8.20 km) of the proposed Murkongselek-Pasighat broad gauge (BG) railway project was conducted at Ruksin amidst tight security in presence local people, including members of the affected families.
It may be recalled that the Northeast Frontier Railway had started the survey work for the new BG railway in September, 2011. But, development of the rail route was delayed due to stiff opposition from different sections of local people of Arunachal Pradesh.
The proposed railway line linking Murkongselek (Jonai) station and the historic Pasighat town of Arunachal Pradesh was one of the two major rail projects in the Northeast announced by the then Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, during 2010.
Entering into the Arunachal territory by crossing the NH-52 at the Ruksin portion, the proposed railway line is covering about 151.30 hectares of fertile cropland at Ruksin, Ngorlung, Sille, Rani and Yagrung villages in East Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh. The total length of the Murkongselek-Pasighat railway line is 26.5 km out of which 24.5 km falls in the Arunachal territory.
The NF Railway authority, with the help of the East Siang district administration on Tuesday conducted a hearing at the Ruksin Additional Deputy Commissioner�s office conference hall with participation of different sections of the local people. The members of the Railway Survey Affected Land Owners Committee (RSALOC), civil society members and panchayat leaders of the area have extended �conditional support� towards the new railway project. They have demanded the authority to pay proper compensation against loss of cropland and other properties therein.
While discussing on the socioeconomic impact of the railway, the local people have demanded the railway authority to consider the distraction of irrigation canals, farm houses, motor routes amidst the crop fields and mitigate the problems through a well defined management plan. They have also demanded construction of a station platform at the Industrial Growth Centre set up at Niglok, about 8 km distant from the Murkongselek railway station.
Leading citizens of the area, who spoke on the hearing, were optimistic that extension of the BG railway would bring economic development to the region. Hence, the extension of the rail route is a national project and concerned with national security reason, it should be welcomed by one and all.
The administrative officials of East Siang with the Land Record & Survey Officer of Pasighat and an NF Railway officials team, led by Executive Engineer (Construction), SC Saikia, attended and conducted the day-long hearing.