Residents of villages under Lakadong Elaka were today prevented from attending a public hearing in Bataw held by the MeECL for the Myntdu Leshka II hydro power project.
Secretary of the Elaka Lakadong, Eshrom Mynthlu said the villagers are against the project and wanted to attend the public hearing to raise their concerns. However, police did not allow them to enter Bataw, the venue of the public hearing.
“Only some leaders of the Elaka were allowed to attend the public hearing that too after pleading with authorities, while the villagers who wanted to raise their concerns were sent back,” Mynthlu said.
He said there is a pre-planned attempt to scuttle the voice of the people, as masked men were seen guarding the road to Bataw from 8 am to 11 am.
According to Mynthlu, the villagers are against the project as the dam will be constructed just about 500 to 800 meters away from the village. Five villages—Borghat, Natbor, Demlakiang, Bri Khynriam and Kwator—would be affected if the MeECL goes ahead with the hydro power project.
The 210MW hydro power project is planned on Myndtu River. Construction is likely to commence in 2024 and is expected to be operational by 2027.
Meanwhile, the public hearing at Bataw was attended by Secretary of Bataw Deihok Sumer, a member of the Land Owners Association Toni Byrloi and pressure groups, who had recently offered their support the project.
Three pressure groups had come together under the banner of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) and extended their support for the implementation of the project with conditions.
The Jaintia Students’ Union), Jaintia Youth Federation (JYF) and East Jaintia National Council recently in a joint letter to the chairman of the public hearing said they support the project and offered suggestions with regards to the construction work and project development.
The JAC wants to replace the afforestation land from West Khasi Hills District to Jaiñtia Hills district, to enrol local skilled or unskilled workers, to appoint local technical staff/workers, inclusion of Borghat Village under the Local Area Development since it could be another village that will be directly and indirectly affected by the dam project.
At the public hearing, the Secretary of Lakadong Elaka and Rangbah Shnong of Borghat Kyrmenlang Swer raised their concerns even as they rue that residents of the five villages who are against the project were not allowed to attend the hearing.
