Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, July 15 2010:
Even after three decades of completion of the Loktak Hydro-Power Project, lands affected by the project are yet to be compensated.
The matter of delay was discussed in the House of the state Assembly today when MLA N Mangi of CPI from the treasury bench put up the matter as call attention motion.
The Loktak project having an installed capacity of 105 MW (3x35) was started from 1970 and commissioned in 1980.The Ethai Barrage which blocked draining of water from Loktak lake to Mainpur river had submerged lands and paddy fields by the moulding.
MLA, N Mangi of CPI from the ruling bench today drew the attention of the government for clearance of compensations for around 45 pari of paddy fields submerged into the water since the coming up Loktak Project during the calling attention hour of the House of the state Assembly.
In reply to the motion, Chief Minister, O Ibobi has said that the payment of compensations to the owners of the affected lands is due to cases pending in the court.
Government will look into if compensations be paid out to the patta holding land owners.
While drawing the attention of the government, MLA N Mangi said that around 45 pari of paddy fields were affected by project is yet not given compensation lamenting that if a big project is taken up, the provisions of rehabilitation and payment of compensation should be included.
He also estimated that since the coming up of the project till date, over Rs 2,700 crores which farmers are to earned as income from their paddy fields had been lost.
Not only this, the moulding water with the coming up of Ethai Barrage is also giving great impact to the Loktak lake and its ecosystem.
The blocking of the natural flow of Manipur river also led to the extinction of many species of indigenous fishes, Mangi asserted while elaborately speaking on the loss suffered by the state with the coming up of the project.
In reply to the calling attention motion, Chief Minister, O Ibobi said that the pending in the distribution of compensation is due to pending case in the court.
He believed that a decision regarding the matter will be given by the court and government will take up necessary works as per the ruling of the court.
Even though the project is based in the state, it is run by the Centre and the court while giving its ruling will also clearly mention the whether the rehabilitation works and payment compensation will be the responsible for the state government or government of India or authority of the project.