While the construction for the resurrected 60 MW Tuirial Hydro Electric Project (THEP) in Aizawl District, under North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Ltd (NEEPCO) is on the fast track, since April 2011, locals and experts question its legality as no public hearing was known to have been ever held.
A public hearing is a mandatory requirement under the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) conditions before starting any major project as the only safeguard against big dam builders riding rough-shod over the claims of affected people.
The other project, Serlui-B (12 MW), in Kolasib District is completed. But it is with the dubious distinction of creating the first official ‘dam refugees’ in the State, as per the Builum Inquiry Commission. When asked about his view, SL Sailova, a retired IAS officer who chaired it, said, “We need power yes, but Mizo people now have to think whether we can have that by destroying so many people’s lives. No proper rehabilitation was in place and there was corruption at all levels. Personally, I don’t think so.”
Aggrieved Dam Affected People (DAP) of THEP have a strong case if they want to take the matter to the courts, opined environmental law experts, such as the Environmental Support Group (ESG).
Watching the dam being built at a hectic pace near their village, locals in the THEP neighbourhood are at a loss over their future as no official information is shared about the dam and its impact since it began, Vanlalvena, the Village Council president (VCP) of Zohmun, a village in the THEP vicinity told The Assam Tribune during a visit to the dam area.
The validity of the THEP Environment Clearance received in 1995 is questionable as the project was revived with fresh estimates, said experts consulted. Under the norms an EC is valid only for five years after it is issued if the project is stalled. It was halted in 2004 and work started again in April 2011.
But the Nodal Officer for the Forest Conservation Act, Addl. PCCF, Rosiama Vanchhawng said that the EC was valid as final clearance was issued in 2000. “A final clearance is final” he said. But he could not comment on the issue of public hearing not being held.
He pointed out that in September a multi-disciplinary committee was set up with representatives from forestry, wildlife, ecology, etc., to oversee effective implementation of the suggested safeguard measures. But these do not include a look at the social impact of the dam on the people living in the area. Besides, as per the EIA all impact studies should be completed before any construction works begin. It’s also compulsory that all project related information be made available to people in the local languages which was not done by either NEEPCO or the State.
Also a question how the project was allowed when the very land on which the dam is based is under massive dispute over compensation claims, huge payments to fraudulent claimants and non-payment to the genuine ones, over which a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed by the Society for Social Action (SOSA). The Gauhati High Court ordered the CBI to unravel the corrupt network of officials and political nepotism.
Vanlalvena and his compatriots said they are against “becoming like Builum” and they will fight it to get their traditional rights over the lands and forests recognised. But how? They do not know, they confess, as being poor common people, no one is listening to them, they said. They might start a joint platform with the vcs of the other affected villages – Ratu, Mawchar, Saipum, Palsang, N Khawdungsei, Serzawl, Lungmuat, Bukpui, Saiphai, Hlimen, Darlawn, Khawruhlian, N Chaltlang, Nisapui and Thingtherh.
The noise generated by the claimant associations and some armed outfits for autonomy over the years has overshadowed these genuine people’s rights issues, it would seem.