KOHIMA, March 29 � Acute problem of land acquisition in Dimapur area has caused inordinate delay in construction of Dimapur-Dzubza railway line connecting this capital town, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio told the Nagaland Assembly today.
Responding to opposition Congress� queries on the status of the prestigious project, the Chief Minister informed the House that the Railways sanctioned Rs 22 crore as land compensation for the 88 km railway line. However, the exorbitant rates demanded by the land owners would cost hundreds of crores of rupees to the Railways.
Except for one, all other villages agreed to accept the compensation rate offered by the Railways,
Rio said.
Moreover, another hurdle was the necessary clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forests since the proposed railway line would pass through the Rangapahar Zoological Park, the Chief Minister said.
He said taking all these hindrances into consideration, the Transport and Communication department and Railway officials discussed realignment of the railway line but no final decision was taken.
During Question Hour, the opposition members expressed serious concern over the delay in execution of Dimapur-Dzubza railway project sanctioned by the Ministry in 2006 itself.
Congress MLA Apok Jamir pointed out that the Railways even floated tenders for construction of the tracks but those automatically got lapsed since land acquisition was not completed by the State Government. � PTI
