Supply of essential items was partly hit in Mizoram amid the indefinite blockade organised by landowners on National Highway-306. The highway links the landlocked state with the rest of the country, an official said on Friday.

Over 17,00 landowners along the stretch of NH- 306 and NH-6 between Vairengte and Kawnpui villages in northern Mizoram’s Kolasib district bordering Assam have set up the blockade which is preventing vehicles from coming to Mizoram from outside via Assam since Thursday.

They are demanding compensation for their lands, which fall in the area where the proposed widening of the national highways has been taken up by the National Infrastructure and Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL).

The agitators, however, allowed all outgoing vehicles to cross the inter-state border and also inter-district or intra-village movement within the areas where the strike is clamped.

Mizoram food, civil supplies and consumer affairs director Andrew H. Vanlaldika said the supply of essential commodities from Assam has not been completely halted, but it has taken a hit partially.

The state does not face a shortage as essential commodities can be transported on an alternate route in Rengtekawn- Bairabi side contiguous to Assam’s Hailakandi district, he added.

The landowners’ association secretary H Lalrinawma said that those among them who have been affected have been assured of compensation of Rs 150 crore but the NHIDCL has instructed to put on hold the 50-75 percent compensation amount that has been credited to the competent authority for land acquisition for release to landowners in areas under projects three and four.

The NHIDCL, he said, has claimed that this was done as the state forest department has informed it that a large part of the areas between projects 3 and 6 falls in the notified forest area.

The forest department officials said that compensation is not within the department’s purview and NHIDCL can give compensation to any claimant as per its wish.

NHIDCL executive director (Project) Virender Kumar Jakhar said that the compensation was delayed for release due to a dispute between the state forest department and revenue departments.

“On our part, there is no problem to release compensation. The main problem is that there is a dispute between forest and revenue departments,” he said.”, he said.

Meanwhile, government offices within the Hachhek assembly constituency in west Mizoram’s Mamit district bordering Assam and Tripura remained shut for four consecutive days on Friday due to agitation by areca growers in the area.

The growers have been demanding the state government take measures to ensure that their products are transported and sold in neighbouring Assam.

Image source: Hindustan Times