Locals stop production of Mingtrang hydroelectric project

CORRESPONDENT DIPHU MARCH 13 [dropcap]T[/dropcap]HE first unite of 13 MW Mingtrang hydroelectric project of West Karbi Anglong which was commissioned on March 3 has stopped its production since yesterday. Production of the project was forced to halt barely after a week due to antagonism of the residents of the locality who have alleged that APDCL has not paid them compensation amount against land accusation for the project to the land owners even after commissioning of the project.A meeting held between the agitating villagers whose land has been utilized and Chief General Manager (Hydro) Atul Chandra Baruah yesterday at Amtrang inspection bungalow failed to break the impasse, leaders of the Mingtrang Development Committee in clear term alleged that unless the authority clears the sum due against accusation of land spread over 4 villages where the project has been built the affected people will not allow further production. They also pointed out that as the project site is within the 6th schedule area of the country the land cannot be procured through ordinary procedure. People of the locality agitating since setting up of the project for their compaction too warned the authority about the consequence if they are not complied with their genuine due. Volunteers of Mingtrang Development Committee has blocked all approach road of the project and forced the employees to stop production since yesterday.