Aizawl: Landowners affected by the construction of the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project (KMMTTP) road withdrew their proposed road blockade scheduled for Tuesday following discussions with Lawngtlai deputy commissioner Donny Lalruatsanga on Monday.The KMMTTP is part of the Centre’s ‘Act East policy’ to make the northeast a trade corridor with Southeast Asian countries. The project is intended to connect south Mizoram’s Lawngtlai with Paletwa town in southern Chin state of Myanmar by road, and onward to Sittwe port in Rakhine state through an inland waterway.The meeting at the deputy commissioner’s office was attended by leaders of the Central Young Lai Association (CYLA) and the Lawngtlai District Landowners’ Association, which represents those affected by the project.Lalruatsanga said the state govt was making every effort to address the concerns of the 138 landowners affected by the road project. He said the detailed project report (DPR) had been submitted to the ministry of road transport and highways. The Mizoram chief secretary had also discussed the matter with Prime Minister’s Office, he said.He assured the landowners that the issues raised at the meeting would be communicated to the chief secretary for further action.Leaders of the Land Owners’ Association thanked the deputy commissioner for his efforts but reiterated their demand for an early settlement of their grievances. They said the KMMTTP road passes through 196.75 hectares, including 84.65 hectares classified as forest land that it claimed was privately owned.The association said its primary demand was that the landowners’ grievances be addressed at the earliest. It warned it would block the KMMTTP road if its demands were not addressed by Nov 15. The association said it had already issued a media release announcing its proposed action.The meeting was also attended by the additional deputy commissioner, CYLA leaders, representatives of the Lawngtlai District Landowners’ Association and members of the Lawngtlai unit of the Mizoram Journalists Association.
