Digging of tunnel opposed

SHILLONG, NOV 3: A section of the women in Thieddieng village has vehemently opposed the alleged grabbing of their lands by the NEEPCO in connivance with the local headman for the construction of the Mawphu Hydro Electric Project – Stage II.

Addressing a press conference here on Friday, the group of women told reporters that the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Ltd (NEEPCO) had forcefully grab their lands with the support of the village head without taking their consent.

Simal Syierlait alleged that the NEEPCO had dug a tunnel in her plot of land at a place called Rangshi without her knowledge.

“I stand here to strongly oppose this digging of a tunnel on my land,” she said while questioning the state government for allowing such injustice to be done against the poor people who largely depends their livelihood on agriculture.

Asked, she alleged that even the functionaries of the village dorbar especially the headman Mathius Syiemlieh had also failed to inform her about the tunnel.

On the other hand, W Synjoin said that they would soon demand the immediate removal of headman for abusing his powers by trampling over the rights of the people of the village.

“Taking away people’s land without their consent is totally illegal in view that the land does not belong to the headman or to the state government,” she said while maintaining that they will continue to oppose the project till they breathe their last.

Reacting to a query, Synjoin said that others have earlier lodged a complaint to the state government and its authorities concerned over the illegal action by the headman and the NEEPCO but no action was taken till date.

The women also slammed the local MLA PN Syiem and also the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) for failing to intervene into the problems faced by the villagers.

The Mawphu power project, which will be implemented by the NEEPCO, a government of India enterprise, is proposed as a run-of-river scheme on the river Umiew in East Khasi Hills District.

The estimated cost for the construction of the project – having the generation capacity of 85 mega watt – is Rs 1042 crores.

By Our Reporter