Settle boundary dispute before signing MoU: Loya

Itanagar, May 07 (UNI) The Nefa Indigenous Human Rights Organisation today demanded settlement of the land dispute between Arunachal Pradesh and Asom before signing MoU with the National Hydro Electric Power Corporation (NHPC) for the 2000 MW Lower Subansiri Project.

Talking to newsmen here, NIHRO vice-chairman Domin Loya alleged that the NHPC was only entrusted with the responsibility of survey work and preparing Detailed Project Report (DPR), but it had started constructing the dam without signing the MoU.

He lamented that the NHPC had ''undermined'' the state government and the affected people of the area.

The state government had recently agreed to sign an MoU with the NHPC, subject to the condition that the power giant would offer 12 per cent free power as royalty, full relief package, including rehabilitation and settlement of affected indigenous people, adequate job opportunities to local populace, besides taking up of the pending case in the Supreme Court and abiding by the National Wildlife Board report.

Terming the government decision as unfortunate, Mr Loya stated that the people of the affected area were opposing the project because 14 villages were not included in the DPR by the NHPC and instead mentioned as wildlife areas.

Moreover, the NHPC had earmarked the dam site, which was within Arunachal, as the boundary of Asom, he added.

'' Without rectifying these factors, if MoU is signed, the government seems to be playing with Arunachal's future, '' he said adding, '' We need development but not at the cost of the people's future. '' He suggested that the state government should not only stick to the 12 per cent free power but should also go for equity shares up to 40 per cent.

Mr Loya pleaded with the government not to take any hasty decision and demanded early settlement of the land dispute before executing the project keeping in view the interest of the indigenous tribal people.

UNI