Sikkim Government Declares Land Acquisition for Chungthang-Lachen Road Alignment

The Sikkim Government, through its Land Revenue Disaster Management Department, issued a Declaration on September 23, 2025, formally acquiring land for the new alignment of the Chungthang-Lachen Road and associated muck disposal. This declaration, numbered 08/LRDMD/2025, was published in the Sikkim Government Gazette Extraordinary on September 24, 2025, and came into force upon its publication. The instrument, a declaration under Section 19 of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 (Act 30 of 2013), signifies a crucial step in the land acquisition process. The land, located in the Chungthang Revenue Block of Mangan District, is designated for a public purpose project undertaken by the Border Road Organization 86 RCC/758 BRFT(P) Swastik, Ministry of Defence, Government of India. This formal declaration followed a preliminary notification issued under Section 11(1) of the same Act, dated February 11, 2025, which was subsequently published in Gazette Notification No. 18 on February 14, 2025, and further clarified by a corrigendum on April 4, 2025. The declaration specified that the preparation of a Rehabilitation and Resettlement scheme would not be applicable in this instance, as no displacement of families was anticipated due to the proposed acquisition.

The legislative intent behind this declaration is to facilitate essential infrastructure development by formally acquiring the necessary land for public use, ensuring adherence to the statutory framework established by the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 (RFCTLARR Act). The earlier legal position involved preliminary notifications and field reports, which identified the land as required or likely to be required. This declaration addresses the statutory requirement under Section 19(1) of the RFCTLARR Act, where the appropriate Government must be satisfied that the land is indeed required for a public purpose before proceeding with further acquisition steps. The declaration serves to formalize this satisfaction and move the acquisition process forward, ensuring that the project, vital for connectivity and defense infrastructure, can proceed. The legislation provided: “Now, therefore, it is hereby declared under the provision of Section 19(2) of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, that the said lands are required for the aforementioned public purpose, on Chungthang-Lachen road in the block of Chungthang,Mangan District.” This step is critical for the Border Road Organization to commence work on the new alignment of the Chungthang-Lachen Road. The declaration lists specific private land plots, including 207(P)A, 209(P), 210(P), and others, totaling approximately 5.2848 hectares, along with Sikkim Sarkar (Khasmal, Khola) land plots, such as 697(P), 696(P), and others, measuring around 9.6140 hectares. The boundaries of the acquired land parcels are described in detail, with the plan available for inspection at the Office of the District Collector, Mangan District. This formal declaration ensures transparency and legal certainty in the land acquisition process, paving the way for the road construction project.

Keywords: Land Acquisition, Sikkim, Chungthang-Lachen Road, RFCTLARR Act, Public Purpose, Border Road Organization, Mangan District, Infrastructure Development, Government Gazette, Declaration

Geo Tags: India, Sikkim District: Mangan District