The ongoing land acquisition for the highway widening project in East Garo Hills has led to increasing confusion and anxiety among landowners, as concerns over fair compensation and transparency continue to mount. Initially, many villagers refused to sign the consent forms, citing dissatisfaction with the compensation offered. However, some have now visited the revenue office in Williamnagar to sign the documents amid rumors that the government may proceed with the acquisition without providing compensation if they do not comply. A commercial property S N Sangma, who operates the only a grocery store that serves as her livelihood, was privately shown an offer of approximately Rs. 8 lakh at the revenue office. However, she was not given any written confirmation or offer letter, nor was she allowed to take a photograph of the document.
“This shop is a commercial asset that I inherited from my late father. As I am unemployed, it is my only source of income, supporting my family, including my younger siblings. Through various business activities conducted at this shop, I earn an annual income of approximately 12-15 Lakhs. Losing this shop would severely affect my financial stability and my ability to provide for my family. However, I have been informed that the compensation being offered to me is approximately Rs. 8 Lakh, which I believe is an insufficient amount, considering the importance of this property to my livelihood and well-being,” she revealed. On Monday, February 10, a group of villagers attempted to meet the Deputy Commissioner (DC) to raise their grievances, but he was in the office only briefly and left before they could present their concerns. Frustrated by the lack of engagement from authorities, the villagers are now considering approaching the High Court for intervention and a fair compensation process.
“This is our land, our only means of livelihood. If the authorities do not listen to us, we will have no choice but to seek legal help,” said S. N. Sangma, one of the affected landowners who has a commercial building.Social activist Cherian Momin from Tura, West Garo Hills, stated, “The compensation process is suspicious, and there may be corruption involved. The landowners are not given any written document with the compensation amount, and the administration has yet to publish a public notice regarding the compensation details.” Under the Meghalaya Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation, and Resettlement Act, 2013 (Rules 2015), the prior consent of at least 80% of affected families is required before acquisition can proceed. However, villagers allege that the process lacks transparency, with landowners being shown compensation figures only at the revenue office without any official documentation or referred to any gazette notification. With tensions rising, the affected landowners are demanding a fair and open process that ensures adequate compensation and respects their legal rights.
