Shillong, July 02: The Union road transport and highway ministry did not take up any project for Meghalaya in its 2003-04 annual plan due to an 'undue delay' by the state government to complete land acquisition process for constructing the Shillong by-pass scheme. When the state took up the matter with the ministry, it was told that projects would be taken up by the Centre whenever the legal matter was expedited by the government, state public works minister Mukul Sangma told the assembly here today.

The delay in the process was mainly due to litigation by a group of land owners from Ri-Bhoi district who were "dissatisfied" with the assessment and measurement of land in connection with the Shillong by-pass project, he said. As per the ruling of the Guawahati High Court, the land in question was remeasured and reassessed, he said.

Sangma told BJP's A L Hek that the payment for land acquisition has been made to the deputy commissioners of east Khasi Hills and Ri-Bhoi districts and the process was on.

The scheme of constructing a by-pass was initiated long back and the feasibility study was taken up by a Delhi-based firm. Accordingly the Centre sanctioned Rs 863.70 lakh for paying the land compensation amount in this regard in July 2000. Bureau Report