Imphal, April 22: Referring to the disastrous event that unfolded in the National highway-39 widening process, Imphal West district's Deputy Commissioner Y Surchandra Singh said dismantling of the building by private parties is against the law as the same had already been acquired by the State PWD.

Under due process of law, PWD acquired additional land from the existing width of the NH-39 route so as to meet the 50 feet distance on either side of the road from the road median, said the DC and added that some of the affected land owners have received the compensation amount while for the remaining owners process are underway.

Dismantling of buildings laying on the designated route by private parties inspite of notices being issued regarding possession by the PWD is illegal, he asserted.

Expressing sorrow at the demise of six persons in today's disaster, Surchandra informed that whole process of dismantling structures acquired by the PWD should either be carried out by the department concerned or after due consent from authority concerned.

Regarding possibility of Government providing compensation to next of kin of the victims, the Deputy Commissioner evading a direct reply insisted that the matter is very complicated and needed minute study before any process is initiated.

When newspersons sought comments from Chief Engineer of PWD Ng Rashtrapati at the site, he said neither the Department nor the shopping complex owner had knowledge of the building dismantling works.

After the structure was acquired by the PWD from the actual owner S naidu the same was clustered in the Department record as 'vacated building' and the labourers had entered the building at their own will, affirmed the Chief Engineer.

He also maintained that PWD did not issue any instruction to dismantle the building at the opportune moment as its personnel were only beginning the road widening activities from Moirangkhom area.

While press source informed of residents living near the site have been asked to keep a safe distance, a family member of the shopping complex owner conveyed that soon after the acquisition deal was agreed with State authorities concerned only the shutter and grill were removed with the remaining portions left untouched.

Meantime, official source said adjacent building would be dismantled tomorrow as effort to carried out the task tonight ran into technical snag of heavy machines.

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