ITANAGAR, 26 Jun: The Kamala Dam Affected People’s Forum (KDAPF-K3), representing the project-affected families (PAFs) of Kamle, Kra Daadi and Kurung Kumey districts, has sought the intervention of the land management commissioner in resolving the grievances of the PAFs regarding the proposed Kamala hydroelectric project (1,720 mw).

In a representation to the land management commissioner, the forum appealed to him to keep in abeyance the operation and implementation of the declaration issued under Section 19 of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (LARR) Act, 2013, and the subsequent public notices issued under Section 21 in respect of the proposed Kamala hydroelectric project.

The forum urged the commissioner to direct the authorities concerned to strictly comply with the mandatory provisions contained under Sections 15, 16, 17 and 18 of the LARR Act, 2013 before proceeding further with the land acquisition process, and sought proper hearing and disposal of all objections submitted by the affected families in accordance with the law.

It sought direct verification and correction of the list of affected landowners and interested persons by including all genuine project-affected families and excluding any ineligible or wrongly included persons.

The forum urged the Land Management Department to ensure preparation, publication and due communication of the rehabilitation and resettlement scheme to all affected families in accordance with the provisions of the LARR Act, 2013.

Placing its grievances before the commissioner, the forum said that several project-affected landowners and families submitted their objections under Section 15 of the LARR Act, 2013 before the deputy commissioners-cum-chairmen of the land acquisition proceedings in the respective districts. “However,” the forum said, “it is painful that,despite submission of such objections, the same have neither been properly heard nor disposed of till date. No hearing as contemplated under Section 15 of the Act has been conducted.”

“There has been no adequate communication regarding rehabilitation and resettlement measures, nor any clear assurance regarding the future rehabilitation of affected families. Consequently, there exists a genuine fear that affected persons may suffer irreparable hardship upon acquisition of their lands without the safeguards mandated under the LARR Act, 2013,” it said.