Public aggrieved with Teesta Urja’s disinterest in settling compensation due for land damaged by tower installations

MANGAN, 13 April: Affected landowners of the 1,200MW Teesta Stage III being developed in North Sikkim are aggrieved with their demand of compensation for property damaged by the project developer, Teesta Urja, remains unaddressed. The complainants are those whose land was acquired for erection of towers to carry high tension power transmission lines. They are upset that their land, approach roads and footpaths were damaged in the tower installation process, but now compensation entertained thus far.
Landowners from the villages of Pathuk, Chandey, Kokaley, Ralap, singbel, Tibuk and Lower Mangshilla, contend that they could not sow seasonal crops on the plots of land near the tower sites since it was under construction. They rue that now that some towers have been completed, they find the surrounding fields left in extensively damaged condition.
“Our cardamom and other plantations have been damaged by the muck taken out from the foundation and even the road and CC footpath have been badly damaged while transporting the machines and other materials,” informed some landowners while speaking to NOW!
“Now we have heard that the Teesta Urja had commissioned the work to some other company,” informed another landowner, underlining that they do not know whom to approach for du compensation.
“The company had assured that we would be paid for damage to our land before they started the installation of tower and that we would also be paid rent. We have been paid only for the land measuring 30X30 feet where the towers have been installed. We were not aware at that time that our agricultural land surrounding the construction sites would be damaged like this,” they add.
“For the last six months no representative from the company has visited the area and the monsoon could prove dangerous for the houses situated below the towers. We will not allow further work to be carried out unless we are paid the damage compensation for our land,” said Kewal Das Chettri of Takjer basti under Pathuk ward.
Similarly, Purna Bahadur Chettri, another landowner, informed that he had earlier approached the company officials regarding the matter but was told that another company would be paying the compensation.
“The irrigation channel in my land, along with other tracts, has been damaged by the movement of excavators,” claims Jit Bahadur Rai.
The landowners have demanded that the representatives of the company should meet the landowners and solve the problem as soon as possible.