Power Grid has cheated Assam farmers: KMSS

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Jan 17: The notion that ‘rules never lie is a fallacy’. This is because there is every possibility of a section of those implementing such rules may comprise a lying lot. What the leaders of the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) have accused the Power Grid Corporation of India of smacks of such a possibility.

Talking to newsmen in the city today, KMSS general secretaries Anil Boro and Vasco De Saikia and publicity secretary Mukut Deka said: “Power Grid Corporation of India has deceived over 25,000 families of farmers of the State. The power lines from Biswath Chariali to Agra and from Rangapara to Salakati have affected over 25,000 families of farmers of Assam. In accordance with the Power Act of India, 2003 the owners of lands above which the power lines run should be paid compensation after the survey of the land and assessing its market price by the Revenue Department. It is the duty of the respective deputy commissioners to ensure that the affected land owners get adequate compensation. However, in this instant case, Power Grid Corporation of India has deceived the land owners of Assam on the pretext of the relevant clauses and sections of the Telegraph Act, 1885. In some cases where meagre amounts of compensation have been extended, but a corrupt lobby of the Corporation and other officials have gobbled them up. The respective DCs haven’t taken any step to ensure compensation of the affected Assam farmers, nor has Dispur taken any steps to ensure justice to the poor farmers.”

The KMSS leaders further said: “Over 30 such power lines are set to be run over the lands of State farmers when the proposed over 30,000-MW Bhutan power projects and over lone lakh MW power projects in Aruchal Pradesh will be completed. Such a situation will affect the State farmers badly.”

The KMSS leaders said that they called a farmers’ congregation on January 19, 2016 in front of Kamrup DC office at Amingaon in support of demands like restoring land rights of farmers, compensation to affected farmers, stopping power lines above the State and immediate stop to big dams.