SHILLONG, AUG 18: The Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) expressed its opposition against the proposed move of the state government to hand over two power projects to private power companies without adhering to proper bidding process and felt this will lead to alienation of tribal lands.
“We opposed the move of the state government to hand over the two projects – 240 MW Umngot hydro project bordering East Khasi Hills and Jaintia Hills district and 60 MW Salim hydro project in Jaintia Hills to Jaypee company and NEEPCO without calling for any proper bidding process,” HYC president Peter Lawai told reporters during a press conference on Monday.
According to Lawai allotting these two projects to private companies from outside will t lead to land alienation besides forcing tribal people to become refugees in their own land.
Lawai added the livelihood of the tribal people will also be affected considering the fact that majority of them depends on agricultural activities and handing the projects to private players from outside will aggravate influx in the state.
“We apprehend that such private companies will deprive the locals of getting jobs,” Lawai stated.
Questioning the reason behind the state government’s hasty decision, Lawai said, “We seek immediate clarification from the government as to what is the urgency to develop and generate power from these projects (Umngot and Salim) or is it the existing projects like the Umiam and Myntdu Leshka not sufficient to meet the power demand,” adding “Or is it the government’s motive to sell the power generated from Umngot and Salim to other states.”
Lawai moreover said the government is taking the hasty decision despite the fact that there are many pending power projects like the Khynshi, Umngi and Wahkhri power projects which is yet to see the light of the day.
Stating that the people of area are also not ready to part their land for implementation of the project over Umngot river, HYC general secretary Robertjune Kharjahrin said, “We want to ask the government will it disrespect the voice and the rights of the stakeholders.”
Meanwhile the HYC is of the opinion that the government should give first preference to the state-own Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL) to implement power projects in the state.
Earlier this year, the MeECL however faced huge criticism from several quarters for its inability to address the acute power crisis in the state through its Rs 1300 Myntdu Leshka power project.
Kharjahrin, however, said, “We feel that the projects should be handed over to MeECL because it is a corporation in face but still a government set up in spirit.” According to him if the projects are given to private developers their motives is to only commercialize the power generated from the state.
Kharjahrin also said if the government is saying that MeECL do not have the capacity to implement such projects but questioned whether the Jaypee Company is capable to do the job when the Jaypee Company itself had failed to complete the much awaited Khynshi power project.
Admitting the flaws in the functioning of the MeECL, Kharjahrin, however, said an error in one project (Myntdu) does not mean that the MeECL is no longer capable to rectify its lapses and do better on other projects. He felt it is the duty of the state government to ensure that the MeECL is strengthen and equipped with the necessary requirements making it capable of handling power projects in the state.- By Our Reporter
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