Landowners affected by the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project road in Mizoram have withdrawn a proposed blockade after talks with the Lawngtlai deputy commissioner, but warned that they could resume the action if their grievances are not settled by November 15.
The blockade had been scheduled for Tuesday over unresolved land claims linked to the road construction. The decision to call it off followed a meeting on Monday between Lawngtlai deputy commissioner Donny Lalruatsanga, leaders of the Central Young Lai Association and representatives of the Lawngtlai District Landowners’ Association.
The association represents landowners affected by the project. Lalruatsanga said the state government was making efforts to address the concerns of the 138 landowners impacted by the road project. He also said the detailed project report had been submitted to the Union ministry of road transport and highways.
According to the deputy commissioner, Mizoram’s chief secretary had discussed the matter with the Prime Minister’s Office. Lalruatsanga assured the landowners that the issues raised during the meeting would be conveyed to the chief secretary for further action.
The landowners welcomed the deputy commissioner’s efforts but maintained their demand for an early settlement. They said the Kaladan project road passes through 196.75 hectares of land, including 84.65 hectares classified as forest land that they claim is privately owned.
The association said resolving the land grievances was its primary demand. It had already issued a media release announcing the proposed blockade and warned that it would block the project road if the issues were not addressed by November 15.
The Kaladan project is part of the Centre’s Act East policy and is intended to create a transport connection between India’s Northeast and Southeast Asia. In Mizoram, the road is planned to connect Lawngtlai with Paletwa town in southern Chin state of Myanmar. The route is then intended to continue to Sittwe port in Rakhine state through an inland waterway.
The project therefore combines road construction in Mizoram with an international transport link through Myanmar. The latest dispute places local land claims alongside the project’s wider connectivity objectives, making the district administration’s grievance-settlement process a direct operational issue for the road.
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. The immediate next step is for the district administration to communicate the landowners’ concerns to the state’s chief secretary before the November 15 deadline set by the association.
