SHILLONG: Reports have surfaced on harassment to the villagers, who have objected to the Mawphu hydel power project.
According to pressure groups, the project will displace many people, their forest land and plantations.
A resident identified as one A Sohtun was recently called to the nearby police station after being served a summon since he was very vocal in objecting to NEEPCCO surveying land at Thieddieng, without getting the consent of the village people.
The total area required for Mawphu project-Stage II is 110 hectares. At the Mawphu side, the area required is 3.10 hectares and on the other side of the river which is Thieddieng village, the area required is 93.90 hectares.
In a statement issued here on Saturday, the CSWO President Agnes Kharshiing said that ignoring the wish of the people, NEEPCO has been surveying Mawphu area for the past two years. Moreover, Kharshiing alleged that drilling works in Thieddieng Village had brought in influx of labourers from Gurgaon.
“The workers have been carrying away large quantities of stones and the people were told by the labourers that the stones are taken away as the sale is good and the stones are costly”, Kharshiing said.
According to Kharshiing, KHADC should strongly object to this as the people of the area who live on forest produce are facing hardships.
Kharshiing also pointed out collusion of police with NEEPCO as there are instances when police even told the people that they will be getting good roads and the project will also bring massive development.
“We are shocked that the Government has neglected many rural areas and several projects do not even get the consent of the people of the project affected villages”, Kharshiing said.
According to Kharshiing, the people should object to the shoddy development pattern of the Government so that tribal land is not alienated and exploited by a few dubious corporate in the name of development.
Policies should be framed to protect people and not to open up doors to crafty businessmen and contractors who are funding political parties. The CSWO hoped that with the regional parties coming forward to form the Executive Committee in KHADC, they should protect the land rights of the Indigenous people of the State.