Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 15 2010:
Forest and Environment Minister Th Debendra today assured that necessary steps would be taken in consultation with NHPC for providing relief to people whose land have been submerged in the water of Loktak Project.
In his response to a call attention motion raised by MLA N Mangi of CPI on the plight of the landowners affected by Loktak Project in the Assembly session today, Minister Debendra informed the House that cases of 22 pattadars affected by Loktak Project are still pending in the court.
As soon as the court gives a decision, the State Government would consult with NHPC for providing necessary relief to the affected landowners, the Minister assured.
The Minister further informed the House that 45,000 hectares of cultivable land belonging to over 12,000 pattadars have been affected by the Project which was commissioned in 1983 .
How the cases pending in the court would be resolved is being looked into and some compensation have already been granted, the Minister added.
Supplementing the Minister, Chief Minister O Ibobi observed that pattaland that would be submerged under the water may have been included at the time of preparing the DPR of the project.
If complaint had been lodged in time, then pattadars are liable to get necessary compensation and rehabilitation benefits.
Soon after the court gives its ruling on the pending cases, necessary compensation would be given.
Raising the call attention motion, MLA N Mangi asserted that matters related to payment of compensation and other rehabilitation measures have been neglected at the time of preparing the DPR of the project.
In addition to submergence of around 45,000 hectares of cultivable land, the Project has also led to disappearance of many indigenous fish species.
The static water has not only become the breeding ground of many diseases but also the cause for loss of many precious lives.
MLA Mangi drew the attention of the Government for finding out ways and means of resolving the pending court cases mutually as well as for providing special economic package to the affected farmers.