Jampui Hill Landowners Await Compensation for 7 Years; NHIDCL Blamed, Government Silent
Around 15 to 20 landowners in Jampui Hill, North Tripura, are still waiting for their rightful compensation, even seven years after their land was acquired for the construction of a national highway. The land was taken over for the Manu-Simluang Road (NH-44A), Package IV, covering the Tlaksih to Thumlai sector, by the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) through the office of the CALA (Competent Authority for Land Acquisition), North Tripura.
Official procedures had been completed long ago:
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3A Notification issued on 25 June 2018
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3D Notification on 4 February 2019
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Compensation Award announced on 19 January 2021
However, despite these notifications and continuous follow-ups, the affected landowners have not received any compensation money. There are no land disputes, legal objections, or complaints regarding the acquisition. The Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Kanchanpur had also assessed the compensation and submitted the report to the CALA. But NHIDCL continues to give excuses and delays the release of the payment.
The situation is even worse for around 7 to 10 families whose houses were acquired as part of the land acquisition. Many of them had hoped to use the compensation money to build new homes. Now, with leaking roofs, broken windows, and no repairs possible, they are forced to live in poor and worsening conditions.
Not just homes, even horticultural and arecanut plantations on the acquired land are suffering. Since landowners are no longer allowed to maintain or develop these areas, pests and wild vegetation are slowly destroying the crops.
In April 2025, the landowners again approached the CALA (ADM, North) for help. But instead of resolving the matter, the CALA office passed the responsibility to the General Manager (Projects), PMU – Dharmanagar, NHIDCL. The NHIDCL responded that, under the National Highways Act, 1956, there is no way to cancel or undo land acquisition once it’s done. They blamed delays on technical issues like a new Detailed Project Report (DPR), change of contractor, and changes in the project alignment.
Ironically, sources in the CALA’s office confirm that the compensation fund is available. Still, NHIDCL’s internal reasons are being used as an excuse to withhold the payments.
This has led landowners to ask some pressing questions:
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If there is no land dispute and funds are available, why is the compensation not being paid?
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If the land can’t be returned, why should landowners suffer due to NHIDCL’s delays and internal mismanagement?
Now, the affected people are placing their hopes on the District Magistrate of North Tripura and local MLA and Minister Smt. Santana Chakma to take urgent action. They have warned that if the issue is not resolved and compensation not released by July this year, they will be forced to take legal action by approaching the Hon’ble Tripura High Court, as they are left with no other option.
The silence from authorities is only adding to their frustration and hardship.
|Also Read : Reviving Springs Through Community Effort: Jampui Hill Success Story |
