Dimapur: CM Neiphiu Rio on Monday stressed the need for an amicable settlement of land issues surrounding the historic Dimapur railway station, emphasising that the state cannot afford to lose the opportunity to develop the crucial rail hub.Participating in the discussion on the status of modernisation of Dimapur railway station on the third day of the eighth session of the 14th Nagaland Assembly, Rio said the station, inaugurated in 1903, is over 120 years old and predates the formation of Nagaland as a state in 1963.
At that time, he said, certain constitutional provisions relating to land ownership in the state did not exist, and railway authorities had occupied and measured the land for railway purposes long before the state came into being.Rio observed that over the years, while railway authorities remained largely silent, encroachments gradually increased. He also noted that administrative authorities had regularised some of these encroachments over time, which has further complicated the present situation.He said constructive dialogue between the state govt and Indian Railways is necessary to find an amicable solution, particularly regarding compensation or other arrangements for landowners. However, he cautioned that compensation demands should not be at excessively high rates.
