Northeast Desk, 25th September: Amid ongoing protests by landowners in Kolasib district, Mizoram, the vital National Highway-306 remained operational on September 25, allowing vehicles to maintain connectivity with Assam. Despite the protests, heavy police deployment ensured that traffic movement was largely unaffected, although some minor injuries were reported during scuffles between law enforcement and demonstrators.
The protests began when over 2,000 landowners launched an indefinite blockade of NH-306 at Sethawn, demanding a resolution to long-standing land ownership disputes and the lifting of a freeze on lands they claim as privately owned. The Kolasib District Land Owners’ Association (KDLOA) alleges that their historically held lands along NH-306 and NH-6, between Vairengte and Mualkhang, have been designated as Roadside Reserve Forest (RRF) by the state forest department since 2020, effectively freezing their properties and limiting their use.
The backdrop of these tensions includes the Centre’s approval of a widening project for NH-306 and NH-6 in Aizawl district, with the National Highway Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) tasked with its execution. However, progress on this project has stalled due to disputes between the state forest and revenue departments.
According to the KDLOA, when the widening project was announced, the forest department declared an 800-metre strip on either side of the highways as RRF, complicating matters for landowners. In response to the ongoing issues, the Supreme Court recently directed the Gauhati High Court to expedite its ruling on the RRF notification within three months. Additionally, the court suggested that Mizoram’s chief secretary convene a meeting with the secretaries of the forest and revenue departments to work towards resolving the disputes.
As the situation unfolds, landowners continue to demand clarity and justice regarding their land rights, emphasizing the need for a swift resolution to prevent further escalation of tensions in the region.
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