Locals from Kalaw village to Kawsar town, in Kawsar Township, southern Mon State are calling for compensation for areas of their land taken by the government’s construction department.
Newly excavated soil aside of the road
from Kalaw village to Kawsar Town
(Photo: Mon Htaw /MNA)
Farmers of orchards, rubber and various other plantations lost their land for the government’s road expansion project.
Widening the road will require paving beside the existing road where farmland currently resides.
“They did not tell us that they would pave the land for the road. They only told the village administrator. We would like compensation for the amount of land that has been taken for the road,” said Mi Moe, an orchard owner and Singuu Villager.
Mi Moe added that the road construction authority informed the local administrators that locals could remove previously marked trees for the road expansion. At the moment, they are preparing for the road by cutting down trees, excavating the soil and backfilling. Those plantations located along the roadside have lost 2-4 yards of land.
The land taken for the road expansion include orchards of betel nuts, durians, rubber plantations and farmland. Although the road construction department authority informed the local administrators about the road expansion, there were no negotiations with the land owners, according to owners of the orchards, farmland and rubber plantations.
The government began the road expansion, up to 40 feet, over a month ago. There is still no compensation for the owners of the rubber plantations and farmland, according to Nai Inn, Hangan Village Administrator.
“The government never said that it would compensate those who have lost part of their land. The landmarks for the road expansion were set up seven years ago. I heard that they would expand the road up to Kawsar Town,” said Nai Inn.
According to Charter 9, article (22), “Notwithstanding any provision contained in any other existing law, rules must be acted for suitable compensation and indemnity in the case of repossession of farmland in the interest of the State”. For that, the Central Committee for Management of Vacan, Fallow and Virgin Land must work with the respective department.
The road is 15 miles and 4 furlong from the entrance village of Kalaw to Kawsar Town and it continues to Makyee Village, according to locals.
