Land owners demand land compensation from MeECL

SHILLONG: The Synjuk ki Trai Jaka (association of Land Owners), New Umtru Village, Byrnihat have maintained a tough stand in trying to prevent the inauguration of the New Umtru Hydro-Electric Project as their land compensation had not been paid as yet.
Batstar Diengdoh, President of the Synjuk said, “We have not received our compensation till date from Meghalaya Electric Corporation Limited (MeECL). We will allow the inauguration of the project if our compensation is paid.”
At the same time, land Owners of New Umtru Village have sent a petition to Chief Minister Mukul Sangma for the non-payment of compensation to the land owners who had provided land for the newly constructed New Umtru Hydro Electric Project in Byrnihat.
The land owners have demanded payment of land compensation at a rate not less than Rs 250 per square meter and payment of compensation for crops, trees and land destroyed due to soil erosion/ landslides as per the existing government rates.
Moreover, they had mentioned about the non-regularization of the service of casual employees who are local residents.
In a letter to the CM the land owners said that their land was acquired by the Meghalaya Electric Corporation Limited (MeECL).
The association argued the land should have been acquired according to the existing land acquisition process/procedure which was not done by the MeECL.
Another affected farmer, Watklet Umsong said that the a public hearing was held on November 24, 2005 in which it was agreed that the land, trees and crops would be fairly compensated for and also agreed to the demand of the land owners to give employment to local residents in the power project accordingly.
“It was also agreed that water level would not be raised or the project will not run before the payment of the entire compensation amount,” he said.
Narrating the plight of the farmers, he said, “The water level has been raised and most of the land, trees and crops has been submerged underwater. Land has been affected due to soil erosion and landslides.”