Dimapur, June 5 (MExN): The Landowners’ Union of DHEP highlighted to senior officials of Doyang Hydro-Electric Project, various issues pertaining to the management of the project and, relatively, the plight of those affected by the project.
The union met with the general manager and senior officials of DHEP on May 23. The issue of certain enquiries into the project was raised by the union’s team which the union claimed as “baseless and self-interested complaints.” A note from the union’s executive stated that ‘numerous’ CBI and Vigilance enquiries instituted against the project’s senior officials are “discredit to the local people on the ground that mostly the complaints were lodged by unauthorized individuals as imposters of LOU/DHEP leaders and complaints are mostly vague.” Claiming that such enquiries hamper normal functioning and retards the progress of the project, the union maintained that these also “harass officials and staffers who are serving in the DHEP.” The landowners, however, demanded prior “verification and authentication” before such enquiries are set up.
On the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the State government, NEEPCO and the landowners for a lease period of 99 years, the union appealed to give preference to local unemployed youths in the project in C & D grade posts against all vacancies. In the longer run, this will enhance effective functioning and progress of the project.
The union also highlighted the plight of villages like Okotso, Akuk and Mekokla in Wokha, and Philimi and Mukhami in Zunheboto. The union informed the DHEP senior officials that these villages’ lands have been submerged to a great extent. Early necessary action was urged before more damage is incurred. Other requests made include construction of NEEPCO guest house, traditional gates, as well as reinforcing cooperation between the concerns involved in the DHEP in different ways.
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