AIZAWL, March 21 - The issue of compensation is likely to hit the Kaladan multi-modal transit transport project.
The Lawngtlai District Land Owners� Association has been demanding compensation for land to be acquired as part of the 87-km highway originating from the Lawngtlai district headquarters.
The landowners have set the deadline of March 31 for the Government to compensate them, failing which they would begin an indefinite blockade from April to prevent the ongoing works.
�The Lawngtlai District Landowners� Association would not be responsible for any adverse situation,� a statement of the landowners said.
State PWD Chief Engineer K Lalsawmvela said today there were 700 fresh claims for land compensation, in addition to the 160 claims which had already been settled.
Over 300 landowners have been demanding compensation for land measuring 40 acres near a border outpost of the Assam Rifles at Zochachhuah.
The Central Government is yet to release funds for compensation. Lawngtlai Deputy Commissioner Dr Arun T said that the State Government would be able to give compensation to the landowners once the Centre disbursed the fund.
Even though a huge amount of compensation had already been paid to the landowners soon after the survey was completed in 2012, officials said that the number of claimants and associations demanding compensation from the Government has also increased, leaving the Government in a fix.
The project cost has also been revised from Rs 507 crore to Rs 1,011 crore. The project, which has already missed two deadlines, is being funded by the Ministry of External Affairs, and it entails construction of 100 kilometres of a standard two-lane highway connecting Mizoram�s Lawngtlai town with Setpyitpyin (Kaletwa) in Myanmar along the Kaladan river. The road on the other side of the border will be constructed by the Myanmar Government with financial assistance from India, an official said.
