From our Correspondent

ITANAGAR, Feb 2: An NGO in Arunachal Pradesh has expressed strong resentment over the inordinate delay in paying land compensation to the people likely to be affected by the 1,750 mega watt Demwe Lower Hydro Electric Project in Anjaw district.

Lohit Valley Dam Affected Citizens’ Forum (LVDACF), the NGO in a representation to Chief Minister Nabam Tuki  alleged that despite reciprocation, the land affected people of the district are being discriminated and treated in step–motherly manner by the authorities of Athena Energy, the executing agency of the project.

“The land compensation amount to the tune of more than Rs 60 crore was disbursed to the land owners of Lohit district on June last year. Whereas five months have elapsed since section 11 of the Land Acquisition Act 1894 was awarded but the project authorities have failed to pay the land compensation amount of Rs 15 crore against the community land falling within Anjaw district for the same project,” the representation which was submitted yesterday informed.

Unlike other districts where the people harbour anti–dam sentiments, the people of Anjaw have welcomed the project with open arms in order to enrich the State’s coffer and for the sake of nation’s development. That have also cooperated in each and every step of the land acquisition process without any hindrances,” the representation claimed.

Besides, it said, the people have parted with their ancestral land for the project since 2008 when the property survey process was initiated. They virtually lost their land 5 years back on which their ancestors were dependent for their livelihood since centuries, it added.

It further said that it had submitted two petitions earlier urging immediate release of compensation, but to no avail. It threatened to oppose other up–coming projects of the company on Lohit River, if the company failed to release the compensation at the earliest. The Forum urged the CM to consider its grievances and instruct the project authorities to disburse the land compensation to the hitherto deprived land owners within 15 days in the larger interest of the project considering the matter that the project is a public–private undertaking in which the State government is also a stake holder.