The Joint Action Committee against Umngot Hydro Electric Project has found fault with the state government’s choice of words and has been left unsatisfied with regards to its demand to cancel the controversial power project.
The Meghalaya government had assured the JAC that it had terminated the private party involved in the project but the committee feels that this wording does not categorically mean that the dam plan has been binned.
The JAC comprises several pressure groups, Dorbar Shnongs, farmers association and others.
JAC member Treiborlang R Suchen today informed that the state government had sent two letters on the subject, one saying that the company will be scrapped and the other that the private party will be terminated.
He pointed out that Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong, who is also Power Minister, had promised that the project will not go forward but “the government has never come out clearly to say that it will cancel the project,” Suchen said, adding, “During James Sangma’s tenure as Power Minister, he said that it is not our first priority to construct a dam but we have yet to receive a reply from the government that states that the Umngot Hydro Electric Project will be scrapped entirely.”
Later, Tynsong was questioned on this subject and stated clearly that it is indeed cancelled, at least for the time being.
“We scrapped it but you cannot say that this will be forever because a time may come when, after 50 years or so, these people may say we need the project,” he said. “We have stopped it but the next generation of people might want the Umngot project revived.”
However, Tynsong added that the JAC should be satisfied because, in all respects, the project is dead and the expression of interest (EOI) floated by the government cancelled.
