NONGSTOIN, March 6: In a fresh appeal, the state government has been asked to revive the Kynshi Hydro Electric Power Project, which continues to remain shelved.
Delayed for over 15 years, the project now remains a distant dream for the people in West Khasi Hills.
Speaking to The Shillong Times, president of Land Owners Association, H Lyngdoh, has argued that the resuscitation of the project will not only address the power crisis in the state but will also usher in employment opportunities aplenty for the youths.
It was in 2007 when survey and investigation for preparation of a detailed project report (DPR) began after the government of the day signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) handing over the project to a private firm, resulting in protests.
The government was coerced into scrapping the MOA under pressure from West Khasi Hills-based groups who organised a series of agitation, but since then the project has been lying dormant and numerous pleas to restart the project have fallen on the deaf ears of the government.
However, with Congress returning to power, the government once again revisited the project and signed an addendum in 2010 with some modifications in the MOA.
The Athena Power Private Limited was selected by the then-Congress government for developing and commissioning the project on a joint venture on Build-operate-transfer (BOT) mode.
However, the project is yet to materialise.
Another reason for the delay was the inaction of the government in completing the land acquisition process.
In fact, the company (Athena) had sent an application to the Disaster and Revenue department in 2015 to complete the process of land acquisition, but the matter has been pending.
Delay on the part of the government forced the company to discontinue the services of some local employees and landowners, and the company has even shut down the site office at Nongstoin.
Airing concern over the governmental inaction to revive the jinxed hydel project, Lyngdoh informed that they initially were opposed to handing over the project to a private firm.
But after the firm conducted surveys and investigations, the landowners, within two years, were ready to hand over the land as it was barren and away from the habitable areas, he added.
Lyngdoh recalled that during the property survey, all landowners willingly signed the report, expecting that land compensation will be paid and area will be developed. “However, the government is yet to heed to the pleas of the Landowners’ Association,” he rued.
It may be mentioned that the then MUA-1 government had allotted the project to two groups — Stage-I to Athena Power Private Limited and Stage-II to JayPee Group.
However, the JayPee Group abandoned the project due to the objection made by the Department of Atomic Energy over fears that the project will affect the Uranium-prone area till the confluence point of the Dam Axis.
Residents of the area are still living in the hope that construction work under Stage-I, which has been allotted to Athena Power Private Limited, would resume soon.
In fact, the terms and conditions in the MOA clearly mention that the company should complete the project within 10 years from the date of signing the agreement.