In October 2022, residents from multiple villages in Haflong, Assam, submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister of India demanding compensation for land acquired for the Asom (or Axom) Mala road project. Submitted through the Deputy Commissioner's office of Dima Hasao, it concerned the two-way road project connecting Haflong to Lower Haflong via Diyungmukh. Opposition to the project intensified after Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman laid the foundation stone for the 90.92-km road, as residents raised concerns over land acquisition and compensation.
Funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), this project is part of the Assam state government's plans to improve various state highways and major district roads. The state government had initiated the acquisition of land for the project through the Public Works Department (PWD) through the Assam Land Acquisition (Direct Purchase) Policy, 2021.
Residents argued that acquisition through the Direct Purchase Policy bypassed safeguards relating to land assessment and compensation available under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act 2013. (RFCTLARR).
In September and November 2021, several families moved the Gauhati High Court to demand that proper land acquisition procedures be followed. Petitioners alleged that they had not received adequate compensation for their acquired land.
Affected families have also alleged inconsistencies in the compensation distribution, with some people who have fewer lands receiving disproportionately high compensation. While others who own higher amounts of land have received low compensation.
Residents have alleged that authorities have included their land in the list of land required for the construction of the project without making a proper assessment of the land required, nor initiating formal land acquisition proceedings.
On November 1, 2022, the court disposed of the cases, directing the PWD Chief Engineer to address representations on compensation, but the project proceeded without a halt. As of April 2025, the co-financed project reported 169 grievances, with 158 resolved, though specifics for Dima Hasao remain unclear per Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) updates. The Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) reviewed earlier land acquisition practices under the Asom Mala project and identified concerns related to compensation, land tenure, and stakeholder engagement.
A June 2025 Resettlement Action Plan for the related Assam Disaster Resilience Hill Area Road Development Project (ADRHARDP) reveals that earlier land acquisitions under Asom Mala followed traditional policies and provided inadequate rehabilitation, leading to community discontent. Government documents also describe the compensation mechanism adopted for affected households. According to a PWD Assam Report, “The affected usufruct titleholders and tenants receive compensation via NCHAC disbursement through Gaon Bura.” A May 2025 World Bank Stakeholder Engagement Plan also noted that unresolved land ownership and tenure issues in autonomous areas continue to complicate compensation and land acquisition processes.
Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Demand for compensation
Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Proper assessment of land required and initiation of formal acquisition proceeding
Region Classification
Rural
Type of Land
Private
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)
Status of Project
Project underway despite protests
Original Project Deadline
Whether the Project has been Delayed
No
Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users
Non-agri rural enterprise, Agricultural land, Residential area
Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict
No
Source/Reference
Total investment involved (in Crores):
₹
662.41
Type of investment:
Cost of Project
Year of Estimation
2022
Has the Conflict Ended?
No
When did it end?
Why did the conflict end?
Categories of Legislations Involved in the Conflict
Land Acquisition Laws, Constitutional Law
Legislations/Policies Involved
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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Whether claims/objections were made as per procedure in the relevant statute
What was the claim(s)/objection(s) raised by the community?
What was the Decision of the Concerned Government Department?
Legal Processes and Loopholes Enabling the Conflict:
Incorrect estimation of compensation
Legal Status:
In Court
Status of Case In Court
Disposed
Whether any adjudicatory body was approached
No
Name of the adjudicatory body
Name(s) of the Court(s)
GAUHATI HIGH COURT
Case Number
WP(C) 5784/2022, WP(C) 6404/2022, WP(C) 6765/2022
Main Reasoning/Decision of court
Major Human Rights Violations Related to the Conflict:
Whether criminal law was used against protestors:
No
Reported Details of the Violation:
Date of Violation
Location of Violation
Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:
Assam Public works Department (PWD) (Roads), Project management Unit (PMU)
PSUs Involved in the Conflict:
Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?
Yes
Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached
The researcher contacted the Project Officer, South Asia Department, ADB, Tanaka Yasushi, requesting a status update and an enquiry for the due compensation to be received by the affected people of the villages whose land falls under the road project area.
Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:
Asian Development Bank (ADB)Asian Development Bank (ADB)
Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?
Yes
Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:
Residents of Gunjung, Guliabra, Delaisa, Diyungmukh villages
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?
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