Doyang landowners give North Eastern Electric Power Corporation an October 1 deadline to address employment and infrastructure demands.
DIMAPUR — The Land Owners’ Union of Doyang Hydro Power Station (DHPS) in Wokha has given North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO) until October 1 to address a set of demands concerning employment, infrastructure and other issues affecting landowners.
In a letter to the NEEPCO Managing Director on Wednesday, the union said the demands had remained unfulfilled despite repeated requests and representations to the corporation over the past several months and years. It warned of an indefinite sit-in and disruption of project operations if the long-standing demands are not met.
The union has given NEEPCO seven days from September 24 to implement six measures, including a special recruitment drive for Grade-IV posts under the original agreement signed on February 28, 1984.
It has also demanded the appointment of a local security guard at DHPS and teaching and non-teaching staff at Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalaya, DHPS, from qualified local candidates.
Among its other demands are a Junior Engineers’ examination against vacancies at DHPS, with preference for qualified candidates from land-affected families; relocation of the finance and accounts wing to the old DHPS site; and additional funding for infrastructure development at DHPS beyond the regular allocation for 2026-27.
The union said that if NEEPCO fails to meet the demands or enter into a legally binding written agreement by 5 pm on October 1, it would initiate what it described as “democratic and peaceful” collective action.
This could include an indefinite peaceful sit-in at the project site and non-violent disruption of project functioning and operations, according to the letter.
The union also stated that NEEPCO management would be responsible for any project operational delays, financial losses or public escalation resulting from failure to act before the deadline.
The union said the loss of ancestral land for the hydro power project had deprived affected families of their primary livelihoods and caused economic hardship, while the project continued to operate.