Dimapur, August 16 (MExN): Villagers of Pangti village, under Wokha, registers strong protest against the purported ‘unanimous decision’ to allow NEEPCO to rise the water-level for Doyang Hydro Electric Project (DEPH). The village has also expressed strong resentment against the “perverted” claims of the land owners’ union president O Mozamo Ngullie that the affected villages had given unanimous approval to raising the water levels.
Taking cognizance of the matter, the Pangti Village Council held a general meeting to discuss the same. The villagers expressed resentment at the “perverted” statement of the DHEP LOU president. The affected landowners contented that even at the project reservoir’s present water-level, the water has submerged a large area of “uncompensated land,” damaging agriculture crops and commercial trees worth crores. Most of these belong to Pangti village, the council stated. In this case the villagers of Pangti have strongly cautioned against further increasing of the project’s reservoir water-level mark.
In the meeting, the landowners’ president of Pangti village also informed that in the DHEP LOU-DHEP/NEEPCO meeting held on July 2, he had objected to the proposal to raise the water-level. The contention was that there are many lacunas in land-measurement and payment of land compensation to the owners of Pangti village. In this regard the Pangti villagers had resolved not to part with any more land to the NEEPCO for the project. Further, the NEEPCO will not be allowed to raise the reservoir beyond the acquired and compensated land. In this regard the purported ‘unanimous decision’ cannot be unanimous. The villagers condemned the statement of O Mozamo Ngullie.
A note from the chairman of Pangti Village Council informed that after a prolonged deliberation and clarification, Ngullie has “gracefully and willfully” withdrawn the minutes of the meeting with the DHEP authorities. He also submitted a written statement assuring the villagers to amend the minutes as well as his statement. The chairman of the council further reiterated the resolution restraining NEEPCO from raising the reservoir water-level beyond the level stipulated for the compensated land.
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