Morung Express News
Kohima | February 29
Two decades has passed since the ground work for Dikhu Hydro Project was initiated, however it has been stalled due to objections by the villages under Longleng district.
The project initiation has been stalled due to objections by Nyang and Kangching villages under Longleng District to part their lands measuring 189.68 (9.42%) and 197.11 (9.79%) hectares respectively, stated Minister K.G. Kenye in response to starred question posed by MLA Nuklutoshi.
Kenye said the foundation stone for the project was not laid, however a public hearing was held on March 15, at the Dikhu-Yangyu river confluence in the presence of the then Ministers and MLAs, District Administration, public leaders and village councils of the affected villages.
Stating that this is a very contentious matter in the face of the state facing acute power shortage such kind of investments and initiatives in the hydro sector is of utmost importance.
Briefly highlighting the chronology of the project, He informed the House that extensive surveys were taken exploring the possibility of generating state’s own power requirements in 2004-2005 wherein Dikhu has been identified as a high potential source of power generation of about 100 MW.
Subsequently, a DPR was prepared in 2009 and in the same year, the department has entered into a MoU with the Mangu Energy Private Limited Corporation, a company who is supposed to invest 100% of the total cost amounting to Rs. 1905.50 cr, he further informed.
With the project covering 15 villages under three districts viz. Mon (five villages); Mokokchung (3 villages) and Longleng (seven villages), objection started to pour in fearing submergence of the village, stated Kenye.
Following discussions and meeting, 13 villages cooperated and land measurements in Mon and Mokokchung has been successfully completed, unfortunately, Kangching and Nyang village under Longleng village refused to let the survey work proceed any further.
“That was the starting point where the development works were stopped” stated Kenye and informed that the department has written to the Phom People’s Council five times over the years, and the latest one in 2023-24 requesting them that their fears are unfounded, but the approach to discuss and interact with the people was turned down.
Explaining the numerous benefits of the hydro project and the future plans, Kenye said besides having the capacity of solving our power requirements, the state can utilise the money used for power purchase for development other areas.
Although negotiation with the landowners of the two villages is in process, “if this time, it doesn’t take off our focus are to shift to other parts of the state as there are potential areas also” stated the Minister-in-charge of Power.
