Dimapur, June 8 (MExN): Zeliangrong Students’ Union of Manipur (ZSUM) today set a number of demands seeking benefits if the proposed construction of “barrage” at Taosang-Thangal area, Nungba Sub-Division in Tamenglong district of Manipur is to go ahead. The ZSUM cited a number of projects in the north east such as the NEEPCO Doyang Project that started off with promises of developmental and occupational benefits to people of the area but none actually materializing to this day. The ZSUM issued a copy of representation, containing the union’s demands, addressed to the chairperson of Public Hearing Loktak Downstream Project and deputy commissioner of Tamenglong.
The union cited the Doyang Hydro Electric Project in Wokha district of Nagaland as the most devastating experience. “It was proposed with great fanfare and the Nagas villagers were promised great many benefits to come. The word ‘development’ was latched on to the promise. But look at what has happened. Around thirty thousand villagers have been displaced and none of them properly rehabilitated,” the union stated in its letter. “It is another story that the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO) does not have a proper rehabilitation programme,” the ZSUM reminded.
The villagers were given false promises of endless power supply, 100% recruitment of group-C and D staff from the affected area at the project, money in lieu of their land, contract works, land in other places as rehabilitation package-all these and much more. “To the dismay of the villagers none of the above materialized. In turn, they lost their land rights, more land outside the agreements were submerged, no jobs were given to the villagers, migrants from outsides states who had come to work as laborers increased the population of the republic and with it came social problems, and most of them have become landless vagabonds,” the ZSUM reminded.
Citing these reasons, the Zeliangrong students have demanded 100% recruitment of group- C and D staff for affected area; adequate percentage of recruitment to group-A & B; translation of the EIA and EMP Studies Report into Rongmei dialect and “endless power supply be made to the affected villages.” Further, preferences for contract works are to be given to the affected people while proper rehabilitation must be arranged for the submerged villages.
“Compensation amount should be increased as per latest Rehabilitation and Resettlement policy. Public should be given free, prior, informed and consent regarding the project. Rehabilitation and resettlement should not be taken as per Arunachal Pradesh policy,” the union stated.
The union also demanded a house-to-house survey based on the latest economic survey of India, 2011 while a “resurvey of full seismic study at the dam site” must be undertaken. Another demand that the union placed was public hearing in all the affected villages. “The public hearing of dated 7th June, 2011 should not be the final hearing as the NHPC and GoM have manipulative policies and hidden agenda,” Stephen Disuang, chairperson of Zeliangrong Students’ Union of Manipur, appended the letter.
The union cited the Doyang Hydro Electric Project in Wokha district of Nagaland as the most devastating experience. “It was proposed with great fanfare and the Nagas villagers were promised great many benefits to come. The word ‘development’ was latched on to the promise. But look at what has happened. Around thirty thousand villagers have been displaced and none of them properly rehabilitated,” the union stated in its letter. “It is another story that the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO) does not have a proper rehabilitation programme,” the ZSUM reminded.
The villagers were given false promises of endless power supply, 100% recruitment of group-C and D staff from the affected area at the project, money in lieu of their land, contract works, land in other places as rehabilitation package-all these and much more. “To the dismay of the villagers none of the above materialized. In turn, they lost their land rights, more land outside the agreements were submerged, no jobs were given to the villagers, migrants from outsides states who had come to work as laborers increased the population of the republic and with it came social problems, and most of them have become landless vagabonds,” the ZSUM reminded.
Citing these reasons, the Zeliangrong students have demanded 100% recruitment of group- C and D staff for affected area; adequate percentage of recruitment to group-A & B; translation of the EIA and EMP Studies Report into Rongmei dialect and “endless power supply be made to the affected villages.” Further, preferences for contract works are to be given to the affected people while proper rehabilitation must be arranged for the submerged villages.
“Compensation amount should be increased as per latest Rehabilitation and Resettlement policy. Public should be given free, prior, informed and consent regarding the project. Rehabilitation and resettlement should not be taken as per Arunachal Pradesh policy,” the union stated.
The union also demanded a house-to-house survey based on the latest economic survey of India, 2011 while a “resurvey of full seismic study at the dam site” must be undertaken. Another demand that the union placed was public hearing in all the affected villages. “The public hearing of dated 7th June, 2011 should not be the final hearing as the NHPC and GoM have manipulative policies and hidden agenda,” Stephen Disuang, chairperson of Zeliangrong Students’ Union of Manipur, appended the letter.
