GANGTOK: The people of Raley under Rakdong Tintek constituency today came in with strong criticism against the “haphazard disbursement” of the relief cum compensation to the affected families of NHPC Teesta Stage V power project.
The disbursement was recently made by the office of the East District Collectorate.
While talking with the media today, most of the people expressed their resentment stating that there were several loopholes and foul play which has ultimately deprived the affected families of their actual compensation.
“We have been cheated. The officials simply handed a sum of Rs 5,000 in minimum and Rs 15,000 in maximum as part of the compensation, which is nothing in terms of the damages caused by the project,” lamented Kamala Gautam of Raley.
This is not only the story of few deprived ones. Majority of the people have expressed their dissatisfaction towards the survey that was carried out by the Teesta Steering Committee headed by the Area MLA, Norzang Lepcha.
“We don’t want the State Government to come in between the affected families and the NHPC. Let us do the straight dealing. We don’t want any middle man,” said Ratna Bahadur Kharka whose house has cracked by the constant blasting carried out during the construction process.
In fact, the people have unanimously demanded the Government’s intervention for a re survey on the damage posed by the power project and subsequently to compensate the same without any kind of delay.
“We were deceived with lucrative offers earlier and now we repent as why we allocated our land for the project. Let similar history not repeat with the people of Dzongu. This is our appeal,” added Ram Prasad Kharka.
According to the source information at NHPC as well as tallying with the survey report, a sum of Rs. One crore six lakhs was handed over to the State Government as a part of the compensation with minimum of 20 thousands to 2 lakhs taking the intensity of the damage. The villagers, however, alleged that the State Government did not fulfill the said criteria.
Talking with a local newspaper Subash Khanal, President, Steering Committee, said that there altogether 119 houses were identified during the survey in which 102 included the families while other 17 remaining included infrastructure such as school buildings, ICDS centres, Health related buildings and temples.
The survey, it should be mentioned was carried out nearly one and a half years back.
Meanwhile, Citizen Forum is organizing a “patience hearing” at Raley on 9 August. Thukchuk Lachungpa, President, Citizen Forum informed media that the main objective of the meeting is to give a patience hearing towards the grievances of the people who are the “innocent victim” of the Teesta Stage V.
The disbursement was recently made by the office of the East District Collectorate.
While talking with the media today, most of the people expressed their resentment stating that there were several loopholes and foul play which has ultimately deprived the affected families of their actual compensation.
“We have been cheated. The officials simply handed a sum of Rs 5,000 in minimum and Rs 15,000 in maximum as part of the compensation, which is nothing in terms of the damages caused by the project,” lamented Kamala Gautam of Raley.
This is not only the story of few deprived ones. Majority of the people have expressed their dissatisfaction towards the survey that was carried out by the Teesta Steering Committee headed by the Area MLA, Norzang Lepcha.
“We don’t want the State Government to come in between the affected families and the NHPC. Let us do the straight dealing. We don’t want any middle man,” said Ratna Bahadur Kharka whose house has cracked by the constant blasting carried out during the construction process.
In fact, the people have unanimously demanded the Government’s intervention for a re survey on the damage posed by the power project and subsequently to compensate the same without any kind of delay.
“We were deceived with lucrative offers earlier and now we repent as why we allocated our land for the project. Let similar history not repeat with the people of Dzongu. This is our appeal,” added Ram Prasad Kharka.
According to the source information at NHPC as well as tallying with the survey report, a sum of Rs. One crore six lakhs was handed over to the State Government as a part of the compensation with minimum of 20 thousands to 2 lakhs taking the intensity of the damage. The villagers, however, alleged that the State Government did not fulfill the said criteria.
Talking with a local newspaper Subash Khanal, President, Steering Committee, said that there altogether 119 houses were identified during the survey in which 102 included the families while other 17 remaining included infrastructure such as school buildings, ICDS centres, Health related buildings and temples.
The survey, it should be mentioned was carried out nearly one and a half years back.
Meanwhile, Citizen Forum is organizing a “patience hearing” at Raley on 9 August. Thukchuk Lachungpa, President, Citizen Forum informed media that the main objective of the meeting is to give a patience hearing towards the grievances of the people who are the “innocent victim” of the Teesta Stage V.
