Displaced Chakmas protest NBCC border fencing

Aizawl Saturday, Feb 2 2008 IST

The Mizo Chakma tribe has accused the National Building Construction Corporation (NBCC) of failing to compensate the families affected by the Indo-Bangladesh border fencing project in Lunglei district.

The NBCC had assured the people of releasing the compensation by January 31.
In a meeting, attended by the representatives from the India-Bangladesh Border Fencing Compensation Demand Committee, Young Chakma Association, and others at Marpara recently, the Chakmas resolved not to allow any further construction there till the compensation is paid.

''NBCC has been duping us. While the Chakmas in other districts have already got some compensation, the people in Lunglei district have not received it yet. We want justice,'' Committee secretary Nihar Chakma stated.

Hundreds of Chakmas, including women and children, had been protesting against the border fencing project at Marpara since January 13, following delay in compensation.

However, on January 18, the protests were temporarily suspended after NBCC Deputy Project Manger, Mizoram sector, S K Pandit, made an agreement with the protestors at Marpara to release compensation by January end.

The NBCC had been constructing the fence along the 318-km-long Indo-Bangla border stretch in Mizoram.

The project would displace 5,790 Chakma families consisting of 35.438 people from 49 villages, according to the Indo-Bangla Border Fencing Affected Families Resettlement Demand Committee.
-- UNI