[ Karyir Riba ]
ANINI, 10 Jan: The Dibang Multipurpose Project Affected Area Committee (DMPAAC) has expressed strong resentment over the statement given to a local electronic media channel by the Dibang Valley deputy commissioner regarding the delay in disbursement of compensation to the affected families by the NHPC.
“We seek a public apology from the DC for making such baseless statements through the electronic media and creating misunderstanding between innocent beneficiaries,” the DMPAAC said.
“In his statement, the DC has alleged that it was due to the litigation filed by some project-affected families (PAF) that the compensation money is withheld, whereby ignoring the fact that the high court had directed the concern authority to disburse the compensation without discrimination, whether the parties are before the court or not,” it said.
“Even after the clear-cut direction given by the high court to the district administration to commence the disbursement of compensation, the DC Anini has failed to comply with the order. Instead, he has created confusion and tried to create enmity among the beneficiaries in his media briefing, wherein he has stated that it was due to some PAFs who have filed a case that the compensation amount could not be disbursed. But the fact is that the court has directed to disburse without any discrimination whether a person is before the court or not. Meaning thereby, DC Anini is playing with the sentiments of the people, in connivance with some unscrupulous leaders and officers, just to create enmity between the PAFs and play a divide and rule policy. Therefore we expect that the DC Anini will work towards getting immediate approval from the land management commissioner and disburse the compensation immediately. Or else we will be left with no other means but to opt for democratic movement to claim our rights,” DMPAAC chairman Nogoro Melo said.
Melo further informed that a signature campaign is being held “to withdraw from the on-protest list after the court order of no discrimination on the ground of being in court proceedings or not.”
