Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 11, 2010:
The Yurembam, Patsoi, Tabungkhok Land Protection Demand Committee the public hearing scheduled for tomorrow in Imphal West DC complex in connection with the Government's plan to augment Yurembam Power House.
The committee has also threatened to launch various sorts of agitation if Government does not revert its decision at the earliest.
Speaking to media persons at Jupiter Yambem Centre here this afternoon, secretary general of the committee Kh Somorendro recalled that large tracts of fertile agricultural land were taken over by the Government to build the existing two power sub-stations of 132 KV each, the store-room and the office building.
This caused severe impact on the agricultural productivity of the area in particular and the State in general.
Given this situation, the new initiative to acquire another 25.876 acres (approxi- mately 43 Sangams) to build a sub-station of 400 KV capacity is unacceptable, Somorendro asserted.
Acquisition of this land would mean forfeiting the right to livelihood of not only the 40 land owners but also around 1700 peasants who lived on cultivating paddy on these fields.
Moreover, annual paddy yield of 1000 bags would simply disappear.
This, in turn, would aggravate the foodgrain situation of the situation which is already depending on imports from outside the State.
The secretary general appealed to the Government to retract its steps aimed at acquisition of agricultural land in view of the adverse impacts which the affected people are most likely to suffer.
Saying that the committee welcome the step to build a power sub-station of 400 KV capacity considering the power shortage being faced by the State, Somorendro said that people would not have raised any objection but appreciated the Government's initiative had it been planned on some area, not agricultural land.
But the plan to build the power sub-station over fertile agricultural lands which are the only means of livelihood for many people cannot be justified, he said.
The secretary general further appealed to the Government to build the power sub-station somewhere else, not in Yurembam or over agricultural lands.
However, if the Government tries to browbeat its way, the committee would stand up against the Government's plan together with civil organisations of the State.
Somorendro declared that the public hearing scheduled tomorrow would be boycotted.
Notably, a campaign of protest demonstration launched under the aegis of the Yurembam, Patsoi, Tabungkhok Land Protection Demand Committee since August 5 last year against the Government's land acquisition plan is still continuing.