PPLAWC wages war against NEEPCO, calls bandh

FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT

Itanagar, Jul 02: The Papumpare Land Affected Welfare Committee (PPLAWC) has called dawn to dusk bandh on July 5 at Pare project site in protest against non-fulfillment of the assurance given by NEEPCO in terms of employment opportunity to the affected peoples.

Addressing mediaperson at Aruchal Press Club (APC) here on Friday, PPLAWC Chairman Gyamar Kuka informed that on March 16, 2012, NEEPCO chairman cum maging director P C Pankal in a written form assured to appoint 50 youths from the land affected families after completion of ITI training but later it was denied.

“The selected candidates for Group C&D posts have undergone two years ITI training at Roing and Tezpur which was sponsored by NEEPCO. Why the company has backtracked from its assurances,” Gyamar questioned adding, the company has planned to appoint 50 persons from Assam and Meghalaya for which an order for special recruitment drive for STs/SCs/OBs has been issued through employee exchanges.

“Interestingly, the candidates me have been already short listed and the company is asking for submission of documents within July 3 next,” he disclosed.

While demanding NEEPCO for immediate cancellation of the recruitment notification, PPLAWC wondered whether the 50 locals who underwent training and who the company had assured for appointment are not ST.

PPLAWC has also appealed Chief Minister Kalikho Pul to intervene on the issue to provide justice to land affected people of the project alleging that the company had betrayed the innocent people on the pretext that the union ministry of power has banned appointments.

The committee also threatened to call a series of bandh calls on July 11 and 18 next to be followed by indefinite bandh at the project site if its demand is not honoured by the NEEPCO.