Reported by
Published on
March 20, 2020
March 20, 2020
Updated on
March 20, 2020
The Kameng Hydro Electric Power Project in West Kameng district is a runoff water scheme that will directly utilise the water flow from the Bichom and Tenga rivers to generate 600 megawatt of electricity. The project is being undertaken by the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited (NEEPCO). The total cost was initially estimated at INR 2,496 crore but was later revised to INR 7,927.34 crore. According to a memorandum submitted to the chief minister on November 26, 2019, by the Aka Elite Society (AES), people in five villages Bichom, Buragaon, Kimi, Khuppi and Yayung comprising more than 500 families, have lost their agricultural lands to the project site and to the Power House Complex without any compensation. This, the AES claims, is on the pretext of the land falling under reserve forest. The memorandum states that the land has been under the possession of our ancestors since time immemorial. In lieu of money, the members of the Hrusso Aka and Bugun communities, the dominant tribes in the affected villages, had put forth two demands to NEEPCO: good road connectivity from Pinjoli village to Bichom (92 kilometres) and Grade C and D jobs under the Union government. Neither demand has been fulfilled till date. When LCW spoke to the projectaffected persons (PAPs), they said they did not oppose the project in the hope of better road connectivity, education and healthcare, as promised by NEEPCO officials. We were promised good roads long ago. We do not have any issue with heavily loaded trucks transporting material for the project, but it has made our roads nonmotorable. Who will take responsibility? Neither the state nor the NEEPCO officials are responding, a resident of Buragaon told LCW. The memorandum claimed that every time the PAPs asserted their demand for jobs, NEEPCO responded by saying that the Ministry of Power and the Supreme Court had banned recruitment. The foundation stone of the project was laid in 2002. In the past 18 years, there have been multiple rounds of dialogue between the PAPs and both NEEPCO and state offcials, but the primary demands of the people for roads and jobs have remained unfulfilled, even though NEEPCO did build rehabilitation and resettlement colonies. The AES has been leading negotiations and protests and raising awareness about the promises made by NEEPCO and their right to fair compensation. On February 10, 2020, Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited, which has been tasked with operating the turbine, officially started operations of two units of 4x150 megawatt of the hydroelectric project. It is reported to be the largest unit rating (150 megawatt) for hydropower generating sets in the state. Not only were the units launched amidst ongoing protests but the PAPs also did not know about its operations. In January 2021, the plant was fully commissioned with the commissioning of its third unit, after units 2 and 3 were commissioned in June and July 2020.
Demand for promised compensation
Demand for rehabilitation
Demand for employment
Road connectivity
Rural
Both
Forest and Non-Forest
Total investment involved (in Crores):
₹
7927.34
Type of investment:
Revised Investment
Year of Estimation
Page Number In Investment Document:
Has the Conflict Ended?
No
When did it end?
Why did the conflict end?
Categories of Legislations Involved in the Conflict
Forest and Scheduled Area Governance Laws, Environmental Laws, Land Acquisition Laws
Legislations/Policies Involved
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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Whether claims/objections were made as per procedure in the relevant statute
What was the claim(s)/objection(s) raised by the community? What was the decision of the concerned government department?
Legal Processes and Loopholes Enabling the Conflict:
Controversial land acquisition by the government
Non-rehabilitation of displaced people
Violation of free prior informed consent
Non-payment of compensation/promised compensation
Legal Status:
Out of Court
Status of Case In Court
Whether any adjudicatory body was approached
What was the Decision of the Concerned Government Department?
Name of the adjudicatory body
Name(s) of the Court(s)
Case Number
Major Human Rights Violations Related to the Conflict:
Whether criminal law was used against protestors
Reported Details of the Violation:
Date of Violation
Location of Violation
Nature of Protest
Complaints/petitions/letters/memorandums to officials
Protests/marches
Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:
Ministry of Power
PSUs Involved in the Conflict:
Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited, North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited
Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?
Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached
Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:
Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?
Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:
Image Credit:
Image Credit:
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