ES Reporter 

ITANAGAR, Mar 21: The affected landowners of Dibang Multipurpose Hydro Power Project have said they would withdraw the writ petition filed by them against the project currently pending at the High Court once the state government fulfils few charter of demands.
The message was conveyed through a press conference held on Saturday. One of the affected landowner, Rohit Mele alleged despite fixing the rates of compensation for agricultural and residential lands including the value of selected plants and trees species by the High-Level Committee for Land Acquisition which was subsequently declared through government notification, NHPC authority is now reluctant to pay the decided compensation of plants and trees citing it as too high. 
“I don't understand why after completion of all land acquisition process and when project work is about to begin, NHPC is unwilling to pay the value of plants and trees as agreed during the public meeting held on March 11, 2013,” he asked. Mele said it would be grossly unfair towards these land affected people at a time when NHPC has earlier paid compensation related to plants and trees to the beneficiaries of 33 / KV Sub Station, 8 km National Highway double lane from Dolkang Stream (Siluk) to Sisiri and 157 km Lower Subansiri  Trans Arunachal Highway from Potin to Bopi. He also questioned the logic of denying the DMP beneficiaries when values of plant and trees were compensated to the project-affected people in various states earlier. Mele also claimed that it is based on the rates fixed by the state government, the notification dated May 17, 2018, vide order no LM-102,2015,736  for valuation of trees, plants, assets, Horti and Agri products were prepared. He also underscored that the rate of trees and plants estimated during the final assessment under section 28(ii) and 29 (ii) of the LARR Act 2013 should be maintained.
In regards to the demand for recall of cancellation order for award of the draft, Mele said that it is not only illegal but also unjustified to rescind the final draft award when it got full approval from the Deputy Commissioner. Justifying his claim, Mele cited the reply of the Commissioner (Law) to the RTI wherein the Commissioner clearly stated that there is no relevant provision where state government could invoke/rescind the draft award order once approved by the concerned DC. Mele regretted that state government has disregarded the opinion of the Commissioner (Law) and had passed the rescinding order in December 2019 last and also criticized the GM, NHPC for backtracking from its promise alleging that during the public hearing on March 11 he had assured to ensure fair compensation, rehabilitation packages including “A/B/C/D” grade jobs to the affected families.
Mele further appealed the state government to maintain the value of multiplication factor/radial distance of the project as per rules imposed for various projects such as the National Highway Anjaw District Compensation (6500 meters to 16500 meters) and the construction of road and tunnel under National Highway in West Kameng district. “Our people who gave about 3500 hectares of rich agricultural land for the project are now disheartened by the hostile attitude of the state government and our suffering is further compounded by the inordinate delay in starting of the project,” he lamented. As per section 41(6) of the LARR Act, after acquiring land from the owners belonging to SC and ST tribes, at least one-third of the compensation should be paid to the affected families, Mele pointed out. “More than a decade have passed but we haven't received the compensation for our precious land and our repeated pleas went unheard,” he stated, adding that the affected people had requested the state government to resolve the issue at the earliest by instructing the concerned DC to convene a public meeting in this regard.
The affected landowners have threatened to knock the doors of the ST/SC Commission to seek justice and warned of taking its own course of action if the state government fails to heed to their demands.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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