Villagers threaten to ban Dolaithabi Barrage Project
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, October 12 2015: Villagers of Pukhao Naharup, Sadang Koireng (Utonglok) and Sadang Kuki on Monday threatened to launch an intense stir and ban the Dolaithabi Barrage Project if the State Government continues to be adamant on not fulfilling the demand of the landowners for compensation.

Land Owners Joint Action Committee Dolaithabi Village Project Chairman Kalam Koireng during a press meet at Manipur Press Club informed that the Dolaithabi Barrage Project began in 1993.Though the construction work for the project has almost been completed, it was yet to be commissioned.

Villagers threaten to ban Dolaithabi Barrage Project

The affected villagers of Pukhao Naharup, Sadang Koireng (Utonglok) and Sadang Kuki were given land compensation by the Government in 1997.However, Irrigation and Flood Control Department (IFCD) has not compensated for the standing properties of these three villages which is located at Maraoli hill.

Kalam Koireng said that authorities had made false promises since the last many years that the villagers would be compensated for the standing properties.

He recalled that on October 7 last, one Executive Engineer (EE) of IFCD handed over an order to the committee which stated that the proposed compensation has been cancelled.

He revealed that that the order was dated March 31, 1997 and signed by the then Deputy Commissioner (DC) Senapati IS Laishram.

Kalam Koireng wondered why the order was kept hidden for so long and asserted that villagers will not consider it legitimate.

"Authorities should compensate for the standing properties within ten days otherwise villagers will ban the Dolaithabi Barrage Project and launch an intense agitation," warned Koireng.

He also informed that over 30 villages may be seriously affected when the project starts its normal functioning and said the Government should immediately look into the matter.