M’laya Govt nod to Killing hydel project
No decision yet by Assam
SHILLONG: Despite stiff opposition from local residents and pressure groups in the State against the Killing Hydro Electric power project proposed to be set up along the Meghalaya-Assam border, the Meghalaya government has given its go ahead to the project.
However, Assam is yet to give its nod to the 240 MW power project which will be executed by NEEPCO.
End of last year, the residents of Lamalong, on the Meghalaya-Assam border, while registering their opposition to the move of the Assam Government to go ahead with the Hydel project had said that the project if completed will lead to large scale displacement of people and submersion of lands.
A public meeting was also held with the support of Dorbar Shnong of Lamalong and All Tiwa Students’ Union at Lamalong Football Ground under Mawhati Assembly constituency attended by many residents of the area.
An official source said that the Killing project, located near Mikirpathar village in Karbi Anglong District of Assam, is an interstate project on River Killing (Umiam) forming the border between Assam and Meghalaya.
NEEPCO had urged both Assam and Meghalaya governments to accord clearance to undertake detailed survey and investigation works to prepare the Detailed Project Report and begin its implementation.
The source added that NEEPCO has received clearance from the Meghalaya Government, but Assam is yet to give its nod.
The project will utilize 30,000 hectares of land in Assam and 25,000 hectares in Meghalaya.
As per records, the project was conceived almost 40 years ago, when late Martin N Majaw was the legislator of Mawhati.
The fear of the villagers is that several villages under nine polling stations of Amri Assembly constituency of Assam and two polling stations under Mawhati will be submerged if the project is implemented.
