Dimapur, August 8 (MExN): Alarm bells are ringing in the villages in and around Doyang hydro Electric Project, Wokha with a rapid increase in the level of water in the reservoir, it is reported.
According to latest information, the increase has submerged large tracts of village lands belonging to Pangti village and has caused extensive damage to properties worth crores of rupees. Effected areas include commercial plantation land areas and orchards as well as agricultural crops.
Landowners recalled that the NEEPCO first surveyed the land for assessing requirement for the DHEP. Accordingly, the State Government represented by the Deputy Commissioner of Wokha made assessment for land compensation within the periphery of the demarcated areas. However no compensation as such has been received so far from the government.
According to a newly formed body instated to address the grievances of villagers and landowners affected by the submersion of the stated areas, large-scale destruction has been inflicted.
“The submergence of a large area of uncompensated land, thereby damaging properties worth crores of rupees, leaves clear evidence of suppressed measurement; the villagers also express their agony (at the) causing of damages to their plantations of commercial trees and orchards of varieties of species and agricultural crops” stated a Rentsamo Humtsoe, Chairman of the DHEP Affected Uncompensated Landowners’ Union of Pangti.
The union was formed at an emergency meeting held July 26 last at Pangti Village to deliberate on the rising water level and that which has already submerged large swathes of land. “After prolong discussions, by expressing their anger and dissatisfaction, the villagers unanimously resolved to protect their long-inherited land and property at any cost. The villagers also resolved to demand compensation for the damages of property caused by the reservoir water” the Chairman stated adding that no more land would be given to NEEPCO beyond the land already compensated.
