Proposed project on Umiam will inundate several villages: Locals
LAMALONG: “We will shed blood but we will not part an inch of our lands for the Killing Hydro Electrical Project on Lower Umiam River,” voiced out the local residents of Lamalong while registering fervid opposition to the decision of the Assam government of going ahead with the Hydel project ultimately leading to large scale displacement and submersion of lands.
The decision was taken at a public meeting organized by the Dorbar Shnong Lamalong and All Tiwa Students Union (ATSU) held at Lamalong Football Ground under Mawhati assembly constituency on Friday afternoon and was attended by a large number of residents.
Addressing the gathering, Synjuk Ki Rangbah Shnong Ri Bhoi president R B Shadap expressed concern over the current state of affairs in the border areas of the State where the Assam government meted many atrocities against the people of the State and many of them remained untold. He also lashed out at the State government for neglecting the border areas and for taking no concrete steps for solving the border disputes.
Shadap urged the people of the State especially in Lamalong village and in the border areas to remain united among them as to be able to resist any nefarious move of the Assam government in encroaching their villages through various means and tactics.
The SRS president assured that as the apex body of traditional institutions in Ri Bhoi district they will work hand in hand as to address any problems and difficulties faced by the people.
He also urged upon the government to speed up developmental works in the border areas besides improving the delivery of health services and other basic amenities.
According to information gathered from the local residents, the project is aimed to generate 240 mega watts hydro power and its history goes back forty years back during the regime of former Mawhati MLA Late Martin N Majaw.
It was learnt that Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) issued the NOC to ASEB on May 9 last year with a condition that should any protest arise from the local residents the NOC will be revoked.
However till date the project is yet to get any clearance from the Meghalaya Government on the one hand while on the other hand, Assam government took a stern decision in its cabinet to go ahead with the project.
On the opposition to the project, the local residents informed that several villages under nine polling stations of Amri Assembly constituency (Assam) and two polling stations under Mawhati will be submerged.
Further, the lands earmarked for the project stands at 30,000 hectares in Assam and 25000 hectares in Meghalaya.
The local people said that they welcomed developmental works but opposed the Hydel project while emphasizing on the need of a 22 kilometer road from Sonidan to Umswai and a motorable bridge in Wah Umri.