Even as the State Government focuses on the merits of big hydro power projects, residents of various villages affected by the 520 Mega Watt Tapovan Vishnugad hydro electricity project continue to face various issues. The residents of one of the affected villages, Selang staged a protest alleging that the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) limited has not yet facilitated employment for the unemployed villagers as stated in the past.
According to the villagers, they were protesting at the power house site of the project against the company’s failure to provide employment to the unemployed persons in the project-affected village. The villagers further said that they will get the work stopped at various sites in protest. They also alleged that the company had orchestrated irregularities in the community work related to project affected villagers.
locals state that the level of discontent among residents of various project affected villages is rising because the unemployed persons in the said area have not been provided employment by the company so far.Earlier, in December 2016, residents of Chaurami Paya under the Badagaon Gram Sabha had also staged a protest demonstration alleging that the officials of NTPC had in the past talked of facilitating community development and providing employment which had not been facilitated by the company.For two days now, the residents of Selang village have been protesting against the company. local youth Mahadeep complained that the company should appoint the local unemployed people to 70 per cent of its work force but instead of that the officials have been giving hollow assurances to the locals. About 10 per cent of the local people have been provided employment by the company so far, he averred. Other protesting villagers also alleged that the company had orchestrated irregularities in the execution of community works in the project-affected areas.
The Pradhan of Selang village, Uma Devi also accused the company of not honouring its commitment to the locals. The protest will be carried on till the company agrees to their demands, she added.
Observers point out that questions are liable to be raised at the method of functioning being adopted by company officials at this hydro electric power project. They point out that company talks of facilitating community works and employment for the unemployed residents of project-affected areas but with time, the assurances are put on the back-burner. The method of functioning adopted by the company officials has caused the villagers to stage protest demonstrations on various occasions.