Umngot project compensation insufficient, says Villagers

Villagers from at least seven villages -- Umsaw, Pashang, Mawsir, Kransngi, Mawdulop and Mynsang -- up stream would be affected by the catchment and the area of submergence of the dam today said they are not ready to part with their land to give way to the mega hydel power project.

"How can we part with our land which is the main source of our livelihood in the area? How would our future generation feel about it," A Mukhim, one of the affected land owners told reporters.

The government had earmarked to compensate the affected landowners at Rs 4.9 lakh per hectare (ha).

Some of the land owners stand to lose all portion of their lands, some would be affected only a part of their land even as they stand to lose no structure or houses as such, an environmental impact assessment study conducted by the Meghalaya Electricity Corporation Ltd (MeECL), said.

The construction of the dam would submerge 56.6 ha out of the total submergence of 253.85 ha in the 12 villages.

While the assessment report said only 228 families would be affected by the project, Mukhim said at least 600 families are directly and indirectly affected by the dam.

The government said it would compensate Rs 2331.07 lakh for the 296.07 ha of land it would acquire from the private farmers of the area who cultivate broomsticks and paddy for their livelihood.