Power units: Lapang, landowners strike deal on private role

Power units: Lapang, landowners strike deal on private role

From our Correspondent

SHILLONG, Dec 16: Landowners under the banner of Synjuk Ki Trai Khyndew Warsanlyngdoh Sangriang Mawpon Area, West Khasi Hills which comprise 200 villages and 10,000 people, have urged the Government to implement Kynshi Hydel Power Project (Stage-I & II) demanding due share and recognition from the private promoters and the Government of their right to be adequately compensated in terms of all-round development of the area.

The landowners, led by the chairman Hamletsman Lyngdoh and Association of Meghalaya for Development and Advancement (AMDA) chairman Wonder V Myrthong met Chief Minister DD Lapang last night to demand handing of the project to NEEPCO. However, a decision was arrived at whereby the Government would hand over execution of the work to “any company” but implementation of the project would not be allowed if the landowners’ demands were not taken into consideration.

“The landowners have agreed to the Government’s offer that a fresh agreement would be entered with any company after taking us into confidence,” Myrthong told reporters at a news conference today. He said that in 2007, the Government had not taken the landowners into confidence when the acting Syiem of Nongstoin and the companies signed an agreement behind their back. However, he said, “This time the Government has assured us that a committee would be constituted that would include the landowners, for speeding up execution of the project.”

Myrthong also said that the landowners had submitted over 31 points to the Government demanding that the company must adhere to them when a decision to hand over the project would be taken. Employment, land possession and others are the basic demands that the landowners submitted to the Government, he added.

It may be recalled that on December 7, 2007 the erstwhile Congress-led Meghalaya United Alliance (MUA) Government had announced that it would hand over the Kynshi project to Athena for Stage-I and Jai Prakash Power Ventures Ltd for Stage-II. Following the decision a series of protest broke out in the State. However, in 2008 the erstwhile NCP-UDP-led Meghalaya Progressive Alliance (MPA) Government abrogated the deals on the ground that they were in “violation” of the State’s policy.

Though the new Congress-led Meghalaya United Alliance (MUA) Government came to power in May this year, no decision had been taken regarding the projects. However, on December 14 Deputy Chief Minister in-charge, Power, Mukul Sangma announced that the Government was studying the various decisions taken by the then MPA Government on power projects. THE SENTINEL