SHILLONG: Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL) is ready to pay compensation to those who gave their land for the New Umtru Hydro Electric Project if they are willing to accept the rate fixed by the government.
In a statement issued by the corporation’s public relations officer on Monday, MeECL said compensation for land, crops and trees was already paid to l6 out of the 43 land owners at Dehal in Byrnihat at the government’s rate.
The statement comes in the wake of threats from the Khasi Students’ Union North Khasi Hills to shut down the plant.
Chief Minister Mukul Sangma inaugurated the New Umtru Hydro Electric Project on January 4 despite stiff opposition from the aggrieved landowners.
Sangma and the MeECL management had held a meeting with the landowners’ representatives at New Umtru Power Station where he assured that grievances would be considered as per rules and regulations.
The MeECL management also held a meeting with the representatives on December 29. The power corporation had said it would address the grievances on receipt of a joint petition of the land owners concerned on the rate of compensation.
The PRO added that for other demands, the management will examine and try to resolve as legally admissible.
The union had, on Sunday, criticised MeECL for failing to fulfil the demands of the landowners and wondered how the project was inaugurated without the compensation being paid.
