The East Kameng Social Welfare & Cultural Organisation (EKSWCO) has raised alarm over a critical oversight in the ongoing investigation into alleged irregularities in the compensation and alignment processes of the Lada–Sarli Arunachal Frontier Highway project. In a strongly worded memorandum submitted to Transport Commissioner and Fact-Finding Committee Chairman Saughat Biswas, the organisation demanded immediate field verification of Packages 1 and 3, accusing the probe team of neglecting these vital segments despite repeated appeals from affected communities.
The Lada–Sarli stretch, a key component of the strategically important Trans-Arunachal (Frontier) Highway aimed at bolstering connectivity along the India-China border, has been mired in controversies over fraudulent land claims, misappropriation of compensation funds, and alignment disputes. The state government’s Fact-Finding Committee, formed on August 13, 2025, was tasked with scrutinising these issues across five packages, with a deadline to submit its final report by November 30.
Allegations of Oversight and Calls for Urgent Action
EKSWCO highlighted that while the committee has conducted inspections for Packages 2, 4, and 5, it has inexplicably bypassed Package 3 – even after villagers from the affected areas submitted multiple requests. Package 1, covering the initial stretch from Lada, was also left unexamined, leading the organisation to label the omission a “serious lapse” that undermines the inquiry’s integrity.
Chopa Cheda, EKSWCO’s Chairman for the ‘Lada–Sarli Arunachal Frontier Highway Scam’ issue, underscored the gravity of the situation in the memorandum:
“Proper scrutiny of Packages 1 and 3 is essential to ensure just compensation, prevent future land-related disputes, and avoid the possibility of the government being compelled to reopen the matter, which could lead to further delays and administrative complications.”
The organisation warned that this exclusion has sown anxiety among beneficiaries, landowners, and stakeholders, eroding trust in the process. EKSWCO urged Biswas to initiate a field verification exercise within the next two to three days, ahead of the report’s submission deadline, to salvage the probe’s fairness and transparency.
Assurance from Authorities and Stakeholder Mobilisation
In response, Transport Commissioner Saughat Biswas has assured EKSWCO that a re-verification survey will be conducted in the coming days, signalling potential corrective measures. The committee, comprising representatives from departments such as land management, forest, agriculture, horticulture, fisheries, and public works, has been granted an extension until November 30 to finalise its findings.
To amplify community voices, EKSWCO has convened a crucial meeting on November 29, involving executive members, clan-based groups, social workers, activists, student bodies, affected landowners, and other stakeholders. The agenda includes deliberating on collective grievances and framing a unified resolution to be forwarded to the state government for immediate action.
Broader Implications for the Frontier Highway Project
This intervention comes amid escalating scrutiny of the Frontier Highway project, where recent suspensions of five officials – including a senior IAS officer – for compensation scams have exposed systemic vulnerabilities. EKSWCO’s push for comprehensive coverage emphasises the need for equitable redressal to affected families, prevention of project delays, and restoration of public confidence in infrastructure initiatives critical for Arunachal’s border security and economic growth.
As the November 30 deadline looms, the organisation’s proactive stance highlights the pivotal role of civil society in holding investigative bodies accountable, ensuring that no segment of the highway’s development is left unchecked.
(Source: India Today NE)
