THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Daltonganj, March 24: Senior Congress leader and former Jharkhand minister K N Tripathy coming heavily on the NHAI, has announced to undertake a long journey by road from Singra to Satbarwa on Monday, March 24, to expose the high handedness of the NHAI engaged in the construction of the four lane here.
Accusations of Neglecting Raiyyats’ Rights
Tripathy at his press conference said, “The NHAI is behaving anti-people. It gives raw deal to the raiyyats whose land or house or both are acquired by the administration for the expansion of the NH here.”
“The NHAI considers itself to be above public accountability. Its officers don’t take calls after having first call. This is not acceptable. The NHAI is bound to address the issues of the raiyyats. It can’t afford to brush away the raiyyats,” reiterated Tripathy.
Narrating his experiences Tripathy said, “I apprise DC of the misdoings of the NHAI who intervenes and assures to look into the matter. But the NHAI just looks the other way. It asks raiyyats to go to any extreme as the NHAI is not going to yield or bend.”
Protest to Halt Work and Demand Compensation
On Monday March 24 Tripathy has a plan to force NHAI to stop work and sit and deliberate on the crucial issues of compensation lying in limbo for many raiyyats.
Tripathy asserted, “I don’t bother how the NHAI reacts to our stop the work and listen to raiyyats campaign. I understand the NHAI has a chance and opportunity to hear the public grievances on Monday and if it aims at any bid to come in the way of my journey from Singra to Satbarwa all for the excesses of the NHAI, it’s the NHAI to set its priority right which is listen to the public grievances and take appropriate mitigational measures.”
The Jharkhand Story correspondent asked Tripathy if he or the affected raiyyats have ever sent their issues and concerns to the Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways, Government of India to which Tripathy said, “Yes. It will be e-mailed. Senior officials of the Union Ministry of surface transport will be apprised of the bossism of the NHAI.”
Health Concerns Raised
“Can NHAI absolve itself of the responsibility of the public health when tonnes of fly ash are left open and exposed? NHAI has no right to play with the health of the public,” charged Tripathy.
Tripathy went on to charge further, “The NHAI in panic and haste calls in the police. What is so that scares the NHAI? A raiyyat whose land or house has gone into the expansion of the NH wants his due and legitimate compensation and if it scares the NHAI then the fault is with the NHAI and not with the raiyyats.”
The NHAI is destroying canal, neglecting village approach path and has worn a total look of indifference and apathy towards the raiyyats.
Tripathy warned the NHAI asking its officials to be raiyyat friendly and not to treat the raiyyats as any castaway.
