Finally, some reprieve after a fortnight of uncertainty

Meg Bahadur Rai clambers up to the road alignment where a departmental enquiry team
had arrived to investigate losses suffered by him due to road excavation work

SUBASH RAI
GANGTOK, 14 Mar: After close to a month of uncertainty, finally, on 09 March, 55-year-old Meg Bahadur Rai of Lower Barbing saw officials from Rural Management & Development Department and District Administrative Centre [East] along with the contractor arriving at his doorsteps to enquire after the loss caused to his property by the ongoing construction of a PMGSY road above his house. [click here and here for background details]
It was on 15 February that Mr. Rai, an MDR TB patient, had written to the area MLA, Menlom Lepcha, requesting an enquiry into the damages caused to his property by the construction of a PMGSY road from Ranka Rai Gaon to Rey Khola. The same day, the area MLA forwarded the letter to the District Collectorate [East] with directions for immediate action. Acting immediately, the SDM [Gangtok], Dr. AB Karki, served a notice to the Chief Engineer, RMDD directing him to submit detailed enquiry report within 10 days.

Mr. Rai, a farmer, has lost all his landed property including his house, when debris from the road excavation was dumped continuously into his land. He had more than 100 trees of oranges, vegetables, a cowshed and various other cash crops growing on this land. He lost everything overnight and is now sheltering in a neighbour’s cowshed.
The enquiry committee comprised of Assistant Engineer and Junior Engineer from RMDD and two amins from DAC assessed the damages and assured appropriate compensation to Mr. Rai.
Later in the day, the area MLA, Mr. Lepcha, who arrived at the spot, was shocked to see the extent of damages caused. He found the contractor missing from the spot and witnessed live, the destruction as the excavator was continuously dumping debris even during his visit.
Mr. Lepcha immediately contacted the RMDD Secretary over the phone and informed him about the situation. He directed the Secretary and the officials present on the spot to take immediate action against the contractor. He further directed the officials to compensate the victim as soon as possible.
He also directed the AE, JE and supervisor to direct the contractor not to dump the debris and instructed them to ensure that the excavated earth and stones were taken into an appropriate dumping yard.
The villagers present on the spot demanded immediate relief and rehabilitation measures for Mr. Rai as he has to look after two school-going children. The villagers demanded that contactor look after Mr. Rai till the compensation amount from the government reaches his hand.
The area MLA also assured that he will do his best to rehabilitate Mr. Rai.
Meanwhile, it is learnt that on 11 March, the contractor handed over some monetary assistance to Mr. Rai as immediate relief.
Now, it is to be seen how long the departmental enquiry team, which took more than 15 days to reach Mr. Rai’s house situated barely 10 kms from the capital, will it take to reach the compensation amount to him!