Itanagar, November 12, 2025: The Arunachal Pradesh government has taken decisive action in the ongoing controversy surrounding land compensation for the Lada–Sarli stretch of the Arunachal Frontier Highway. Four senior officers have been suspended, and disciplinary action has been recommended against East Kameng deputy commissioner and IAS officer Himanshu Nigam, following the submission of an interim report by a Fact-Finding Committee (FFC) that uncovered serious irregularities in compensation payments.

Background of the Controversy

The controversy erupted after multiple complaints from landowners and social activists highlighted irregularities in the assessment and disbursement of land compensation for the Lada–Sarli segment, which is part of the larger Arunachal Frontier Highway—a 1,748-kilometer strategic road corridor along the India–China border aimed at improving connectivity, boosting development in border areas, and enhancing national security.

The FFC, constituted on August 13 under the chairmanship of the state transport commissioner, was tasked with conducting a comprehensive review of the land compensation process for this stretch. Its formation was prompted by allegations that compensation had been paid to non-existent beneficiaries, and that the valuations of assets were inflated and fraudulent. The panel’s interim findings, submitted to the state government on November 4, corroborated these allegations, revealing systemic lapses in the process and “serious omissions and commissions” by the team responsible for verification and assessment on the ground.

Officers Suspended and Actions Recommended

The state government has suspended four senior officials in connection with the irregularities. These include:

• Abhinav Kumar, Seppa divisional forest officer (IFS)
• Miram Perme, district agriculture officer
• C.K. Tayum, district horticulture officer
• Takam Kechak, district land revenue and settlement officer

In addition, the government has written to the Ministry of Home Affairs recommending disciplinary action against Himanshu Nigam, the East Kameng deputy commissioner, who headed the compensation verification board. The allegations against Nigam include bypassing mandatory procedures and failing to ensure transparent and accurate assessment of land compensation.

Findings of the Fact-Finding Committee

According to the FFC’s interim report, the assessment process suffered from multiple discrepancies. Compensation payments were found to have been disbursed for assets that did not exist, while legitimate landowners were reportedly excluded. The valuations of certain lands were “grossly inflated,” and in some cases, fake beneficiaries were included in the compensation lists.

The committee’s interim report has flagged significant lapses by the officials responsible for ground verification and asset assessment. The FFC’s findings underscore not only procedural lapses but also deliberate mismanagement, which has raised concerns about transparency, accountability, and fairness in the land acquisition process.

The FFC is a multi-departmental panel, with representatives from the departments of land management, forest, agriculture, horticulture, fisheries, and public works. The committee has been given until November 30 to submit its final report, which is expected to provide comprehensive recommendations for corrective action and further administrative measures.

Context: The Arunachal Frontier Highway Project

The Arunachal Frontier Highway is a flagship project under the Central government’s initiative to strengthen infrastructure along the sensitive India–China border. The 1,748-km highway stretches across difficult terrain, connecting remote villages, and facilitating access to border outposts. The project is intended not only to improve national security but also to provide better connectivity and economic development opportunities in Arunachal Pradesh’s isolated regions.

Land acquisition for such large-scale infrastructure projects is governed under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation, and Resettlement (RFCTLARR) Act, 2013. The Act mandates public notifications, surveys, and transparent processes to ensure fair treatment of landowners and prevent fraudulent claims.

However, according to complaints and the FFC report, the East Kameng district administration allegedly failed to follow these procedures. Some landowners have claimed that authorities bypassed mandatory public notifications and ground surveys, effectively leaving genuine beneficiaries out of the compensation process while including fictitious names.

Implications of the Interim Findings

The suspension of senior officers and the recommendation against the deputy commissioner signals the state government’s intent to take strong administrative action against those responsible for mismanagement and fraud. The interim report has not only highlighted procedural lapses but also potential collusion and manipulation of records, which could have far-reaching consequences for trust in government processes and the implementation of infrastructure projects in the region.

Social activists and affected landowners have welcomed the government’s intervention but remain cautious, awaiting the FFC’s final report. The upcoming findings are expected to clarify the full extent of irregularities and recommend measures to prevent such issues in the future, including possible criminal investigations against those found culpable.

Way Forward

The FFC will continue its probe and submit the final report by November 30. Authorities have indicated that the final recommendations will form the basis for further disciplinary or legal action against the officers involved. Additionally, the state government is expected to review the broader mechanisms of land acquisition and compensation under the RFCTLARR Act to strengthen transparency and accountability, ensuring that such irregularities do not recur in other stretches of the Frontier Highway or similar infrastructure projects.

As the Lada–Sarli stretch remains a key segment of a strategically important highway, ensuring fair compensation to landowners and adherence to legal procedures is crucial for maintaining public trust, preventing disputes, and facilitating the smooth progress of this significant border infrastructure project.

Conclusion

The interim report by the Fact-Finding Committee has exposed systemic flaws in the land compensation process for the Arunachal Frontier Highway, prompting swift administrative action by the state government. With four officers suspended and disciplinary proceedings recommended against the deputy commissioner, the case underscores the importance of transparency, accountability, and adherence to the law in infrastructure development projects, especially in strategically sensitive areas. The final FFC report, expected later this month, will determine the next steps and shape reforms to ensure that development does not come at the cost of fairness and justice for local landowners.

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