Dist admn and Railway reps meet affected landowners

GANGTOK, 27 Aug: A meeting between the District Administration [East], North East Frontier Railway executing agency, IRCON International Limited, and representatives of land owners of the proposed project site of the Sevoke-Rangpo Railway line of Khani Khola, Rangpo was held at District Administration Centre conference hall today.
After a thorough discussion on various issues raised by all sides, the representatives of the land owners decided to convene a meeting with the people of the area on 02 September [Sunday] to convince them to allow the survey on the new finalized alignment in the proposed area from 10 September onwards. It is informed that during the survey, the company representatives will also be accompanied by officials from concerned government departments and DAC [East].
The meeting was also attended by the Minister Neeru Sewa, who is also the area MLA, Transport Department Secretary, Tsegyal Tashi, District Collector [East], D Anandan, SDM [East], Dr AB Karki and representatives of land owners.
The DC informed that after the laying of the foundation stone in Rangpo in 2009, the executing company had approached the district administration for land acquisition but following protest from the affected people of the area the whole process was totally stopped. He further informed that a committee of the land owners was also formed and different issues and aspects of the project were discussed. The administration had asked the railways to look into the matter again.
The DC informed that after working out the latest railway alignment this meeting has been called to inform the people about the same. He mentioned that the administration intends to acquire as little of private land as possible for this project. He pointed out that due to objections raised by the people on conducting a survey the whole project has been pending from the Sikkim side.
The DC urged the people to allow for survey first to have a clearer picture of the affected land. He stated that even the administration has been requesting for lesser acquisition of private land.
IRCON International Limited General Manager, KK Gupta gave a brief presentation on the construction of Sevoke-Rangpo New Broad Gauge Rail line project. He informed that the work of alignment design was awarded to an international consultant, GEODATA of Italy, WHICH, after satellite survey, suggested seven corridors for this project. He further informed that out of these seven suggested corridors the best and most suitable was finalized.
The General Manager also presented the salient features and other technical details of the project.
He mentioned that till date only satellite survey of the area has been done and a clear picture can be arrived at only after a physical survey.
During the meeting, land owners of the proposed project site raised various queries, grievances and issues in the meeting. On the same, the GM assured full cooperation to the people and to take them into the confidence in the work.
The Minister mentioned that the State government has been working on sorting out the connectivity problem for the state and this railway line will help address this issue along with supporting further developmental activities in the state. However, she stated that without the people’s support, the government cannot do anything.
The Minister clarified that the survey is only the initial phase and land acquisition would follow thereafter. She urged the people to let the survey be conducted in order to get a clear picture and also added that the centre has been enquiring on the delay in the project. The area MLA also extended her help and support to the people.

Railway head Affected people meet Area MLA to express concerns

GANGTOK, 14 Feb: Today, the delegates of newly constituted Railway Affected Khani Khola Majhitar Joint Action Committee RAKMJAC met with Area MLA cum Industrial Minister Niru Sewa at her residence to highlight their concern over the proposed railway pilot project of the state railway. The delegation comprised of recently nominated committee members including President, Kedar Pradhan, General Secretary, Ragap Chettri, Treasurer, Mohan Subba, Advisor, Anand Pradhan along with Panchayat, Purna Bdr Chettri and senior citizen KB Pradhan of Khani Khola.

The body deliberated about the concerns that land owners and residents are harbouring and worrying over related to the proposed railway project which will result in the acquisition of their lands. The acquisition of their lands, it is feared, would pose various problems for the locals, it is feared. The people are particularly unhappy over the recent survey conducted over their lands for the proposed rail head by state and central officials at Khanikhola and Upper Majitar, which was done without prior intimation to the land owners. The Area MLA has assured to look into the matter raised by the locals and address their grievances.

It was earlier reported by NOW that the East District administration is seized of the matter and is attempting to ascertain the cause of the resentment and grievance of the locals in relation to the survey conducted by officials on the land and the stated purpose of acquiring their land for the construction of the first rail head in the state of Sikkim. It may also be mentioned here that the state government has not yet issued any notification for land acquisition and by procedure there is to be a public hearing before such a notification is issued.

Surveying activity for Railway head stopped in view of protests; officials to ascertain disgruntlement

NO NOTIFICATION YET FOR LAND ACQUISITION FOR RAILWAY PROJECT 
GANGTOK, 07 Feb: The East District administration has stopped all surveying and spot verification works which were underway at Khani Khola, Majitar. This is in response to the agitated stand taken by the local people whose lands are being surveyed for the upcoming Railway head to be set up there. This will be the first railway junction in the state, if it comes up.
It was further learnt that regarding the same, a meeting between the members of the Railway affected Committee and the State Transport Authority was held recently, but the outcome of the meeting is not known.
It had earlier been reported that the affected locals of Khani Khola had organized themselves into a committee called the Railway Affected Committee to present a united stand against the taking of their lands for the railway project. However it seems that the reaction of the locals may be a bit premature considering that there has, as yet, been no notification issued by any authority on land acquisition at the particular spot. It may be also said that the act of surveying too is premature without an official notification of land acquisition. Notifications of land acquisitions are issued by the Land Revenue department of the state government, and as of now and as informed, there is no such notification. In fact in the absence of such a notification state government officials are not supposed to go into any land for purposes of surveying and verification.
However in this instance, this was a preliminary survey being conducted by the East District office. The Head Surveyor, GB Subba and RO, GP Sharma, East District, had gone to Khani Khola on 11 January 2012 in a preliminary surveying exercise. However, when they returned to continue with the survey exercise a few days ago they were met with opposition from the locals. The officials did complete their survey exercise of the Mining Complex but were challenged when they attempted it at Khani Khola, which falls under West Pendam, they informed. The people of the area put up a protest and did not allow the officials to step on their lands for the spot verification and did not allow them to gather the land details either, officials informed.
Considering that there is no notification along with the disturbance now created among the locals there who have stated that they will not part with their lands the district administration has thought it better to stop all surveying and spot verification exercises in the particular location till further directions. This was informed by SDM East, AB Karki while talking to NOW today. He further informed that the administration is looking into and examining the grievances of the public and will try to find out the reasons why the people do not want to give the land for the project.
We will look into the matter at the earliest and find to resolve the problem and also find out the reason for the resentment of the people of the area as why they do not want to give their lands for the railway project, the SDM [East] stated.

Railway project affected people protest land acquisition, form Railway Affected Committee

GANGTOK, 06 Feb: On 5 February a huge gathering of land owners got together at Khani Khola, Majhitar for a meeting to discuss the behaviour, and in their view, unauthorised activity of railway authorities. The meeting was called in order to make a united stand and formulate a response over the attempt at acquiring their land for the railway head. The land owners, it is informed, are unhappy over the mapping and surveying of their land conducted by the railway authorities for construction of the railway project. In fact, the affected landowners of the area had earlier alleged highhandedness on the part of the railway authorities who had come to survey their land particularly in view of their submission that they are not ready to part with their lands. In view of this they have called the survey and mapping work being done on their lands ‘unauthorised’.
At the meeting the landowners discussed all possible scenarios and unanimously decided to form a committee for defending their cause and called it the  'Railway Affected Khanikhola Majhitar Joint Action Committee' (RAKMJAC). They have resolved not to allow any land to be taken. The meeting also cited various instances where people had been relieved of their lands without proper compensation and leading to their impoverishment. The landowners have also threatened an agitation should their land be taken forcibly. The next meeting is scheduled for 12 February.

It may be recalled here that for building proposed railway infrastructure then Railway Minister Mamta Banerjee had selected Mining Ground as a suitable place for the railway platform.