The Land Owners’ Union of the Doyang Hydro-Electric Plant (DHEP), Wokha, has appealed to Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio for immediate intervention to resolve a series of long-standing issues concerning the project, including the reservoir water level, employment opportunities for land-affected families, recruitment of local engineers, the transfer of ownership of NEEPCO, and a dedicated development fund from the State’s free-power entitlement.

In a detailed representation to the Chief Minister, signed by P Roland Ezung, President, and Sorethung Patton, General Secretary, Land Owners’ Union, Doyang Hydro-Electric Plant, the Union said the grievances of the project-affected communities had remained unresolved for decades despite repeated rounds of correspondence and negotiations with the authorities. It maintained that the issues were not isolated but were directly linked to the commitments made to the landowners when their ancestral and cultivable lands were acquired for the Doyang project.

The Doyang Hydro-Electric Plant, with an installed capacity of 75 MW comprising three units of 25 MW each, was established on the Doyang River in Wokha district following an agreement between the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited (NEEPCO), the Government of Nagaland and the landowners. The project was commissioned in 2000 and dedicated to the nation on March 2, 2002.

The landowners said that following negotiations with the Government of Nagaland and NEEPCO, 17 villages affected by the project agreed to part with 8,420.41 acres of land through an Agreement of Land Acquisition signed on February 23, 1984.

The Union stressed that the affected villages had surrendered their cultivable lands specifically for the establishment and operation of the Doyang Hydro-Electric Plant by NEEPCO, a Government of India enterprise. It asserted that the landowners had agreed to the acquisition specifically for the project and not for its subsequent transfer to another corporation or private agency.

Concern over NEEPCO-NTPC transfer

One of the major concerns raised by the Union relates to the transfer of ownership of NEEPCO. The Union raised particular concern over the Government of India’s disinvestment of its 100 per cent shareholding in NEEPCO to National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC) for Rs 4,000 crore in March 2020, which included the Doyang project.

According to the landowners, the transfer was made without the knowledge or consent of the Government of Nagaland and the project stakeholders, and amounted to a violation of the tripartite agreement.

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Reservoir water-level dispute remains unresolved

The Union also highlighted what it described as a “persistent and foundational conflict” over the operational water level of the Doyang reservoir.

According to the landowners, the reservoir has been operated at a level of around 324 metres above sea level, while NEEPCO has maintained that compensation for the affected land was paid through the Government for an area corresponding to a reservoir level of 340 metres.

The Union said the discrepancy has remained unresolved since the commissioning of the project despite several rounds of correspondence between the State Government, NEEPCO and representatives of the affected villages.

It stated that the issue had become a major source of mistrust between the landowners and the project authorities and had contributed to continuing friction between the communities and the project management.

The Union also expressed concern over the safety of communities and properties located around the reservoir, alleging that the unresolved water-level issue has contributed to an “unstable and hazardous operational environment.” It urged the State Government to intervene and facilitate a permanent resolution.

Landowners demand preferential employment

Another major grievance concerns employment opportunities promised to land-affected families.

The Union said the original agreement contained provisions guaranteeing preferential employment to families from the land-affected communities, particularly in Grade-D and contractual positions. It described the provision as an important compensatory measure intended to offset the permanent loss of agricultural land and traditional livelihoods.

However, it alleged that qualified candidates from landowning families had continued to be overlooked for Grade-D and contractual posts despite vacancies.

The Union called for transparent implementation of the employment provision and an accountable policy giving due preference to eligible members of the affected communities.

Demand for recruitment of local engineers

The Union has also sought preferential consideration for qualified engineers from the project-affected villages in the recruitment of Junior Engineers in Civil, Mechanical and Electrical disciplines at Doyang Hydro Power Station.

It stated that the 17 land-affected villages now have qualified engineers in various disciplines who are capable of serving at the power station.

Describing Doyang as the only operational and largest power project in Nagaland, the Union appealed to the Chief Minister and concerned authorities to ensure that qualified engineers from the affected villages are given appropriate opportunities in recruitment to available positions.

Landowners seek share of free-power revenue for affected areas

Another significant demand concerns the 12 per cent free-power entitlement received by Nagaland from the Doyang project.

The Union pointed out that the 75-MW Doyang project, being a central sector power project, contributes 12 per cent free energy to the State. While acknowledging the contribution of the project to Nagaland’s power sector and economy, it argued that the communities that sacrificed their ancestral lands have not received adequate developmental benefits.

The Union has therefore requested the State Government to earmark 2 per cent or 4 per cent of the revenue derived from the State’s 12 per cent free-power entitlement as a Local Area Development Fund (LADF) dedicated exclusively to project-affected families and surrounding areas of Doyang in Wokha district.

The proposed fund, according to the Union, could be utilised for the development and welfare of families affected by the project and the neighbouring communities.

“These are not isolated problems but interconnected facets of a single, overarching failure to deliver the developmental justice promised to the people of Doyang,” the Union stated.

It said the landowners had remained patient for more than two decades while repeatedly seeking resolution through negotiations and representations.

“We trust in your wisdom and authority to intervene and secure a future of justice, partnership, and genuine prosperity for our communities,” it stated in the representation.