The Tripura Human Rights Commission (THRC) has issued a notice to the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), seeking a detailed report by July 11 regarding the prolonged delay in compensating around 20 families in the Jampui Hills area of North Tripura.

The Commission’s action follows complaints and a media report highlighting that despite land acquisition over seven years ago for a national highway project, the affected families have not received their dues.

THRC Chairperson Justice Arindam Lodh, taking suo motu cognizance of the matter, noted that the land was officially acquired through the Competent Authority for Land Acquisition (CALA)—in this case, the Additional District Magistrate of North Tripura. Notifications under Sections 3A and 3D of the National Highways Act, 1956, were issued on June 25, 2018, and February 4, 2019, respectively, with the final award for compensation announced on January 19, 2021.

“Despite the absence of any legal dispute or ownership issue, the compensation has not been released, leaving the families in distress. NHIDCL’s repeated deferrals citing project alignment changes, contractor issues, and a new Detailed Project Report (DPR) are unjustified,” the Commission observed.

Official sources confirmed that the Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Kanchanpur had already completed the assessment and forwarded it to CALA. Yet, NHIDCL has withheld the payment without any substantial legal basis.

Terming the prolonged delay as a clear violation of human rights, the Commission noted that the affected landowners have been subjected to harassment and deprivation of their legitimate entitlements.

In its directive, the THRC has asked the Executive Director of NHIDCL, based at UD Bhavan in Agartala, and the Land Acquisition Collector of North Tripura to submit individual reports on the matter by the next hearing date.