Shillo ng, Jan 21: The people of Thieddieng Village, of Mawsynram Block, East Khasi Hills District, invited the CSWO to visit and help them with regards to objecting to NEEPCO, which has forcefully surveyed and destroyed their land, for the proposed Mawphu Electric Hydro Project stage II.
The distance of this village from Mawsynram is about 11 kms and about 67 kms from Shillong. After 42 years of Statehood the road to Thieddieng is in such a state that it is brazen of the Government to talk of development. Even inspite of a question being raised in the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly on the 30Th March 1977 by the then MLA K.M.Roy Marbaniang from the Minister in Charge PWD, with regards to the Road from Mawsynram to Thieddieng, whether it was stopped, the answer to the query was that “the construction works on these roads have not been stopped. Works are in progress, and planned according to availability of funds”. This is the present Road after 36 years.
The area has a cultivation of sweetest oranges, bay leaf, pepper, bettlenut and bettle leaf, yam which provides economy for the people of that area. The land is very suitable for such cultivations and forest area is also there for the people who depend on it for firewood and wood for housing. These are customary and traditional practices and were being followed all along.
It is very emotional that the people of that village used the produce of that village to greet the President of the CSWO with honour among them , by garlanding her with a garland of sweet oranges which shows their creativeness by utilizing the very product of that area which could be destroyed by the rampant surveying and destruction of the NEEPCO for their Mawphu Project.
On behalf of the CSWO we appreciate the whole hearted spirit of the people of the Village of Thieddieng, who were present to welcome them. We assure that we shall wholeheartedly fight against land alienation of the Tribal People said Belbora Wankhar Member the CSWO.(SP News)
