Umtru landowners say no to MeECL money, flag demands

NONGPOH: The affected landowners of the Umtru Hydel Electricity Project refused to accept the cheques offered by MeECL officials on Monday as land compensation after the power corporation failed to fulfil their demands.
More than 50 landowners, mostly farmers, attended the meeting convened by MeECL on Monday. It was attended by MeECL Joint Secretary D. Warjri and Superintending Engineer BM War, among others.
The landowners – who are from Panitola, Niangbari Them, Niangbari Lum, Sohkhwai, Umsarang and Umtrew, among other villages – want compensation at a rate not less than Rs 250 per sqm, payment of compensation for crops destroyed as per existing rates and regularised service of the 22 casual employees who are engaged by the corporation in the project.
MeECL was paying them at Rs 30 per sqm. The landowners said they were not happy with the rate and that they were unaware of the current market rate.
The MeECL officials while answering to the demands of the landowners stated that with regards to the land compensation, the deputy commissioner can enhance the rates and the corporation will comply by whatever is fixed by the administration.
They also said the corporation is ready to pay compensation for crops but only after an assessment by the department concerned.
About regularisation, the senior officials said only the higher authority at MeECL can take the decision.