The government promises to sufficiently compensate villagers who will be displaced by 540 Megawatt (MW) Amochhu Reservoir Hydroelectric Project.
During, ‘Meet the Press,’ yesterday, the economic affairs minister, Khandu Wangchuk, said the villagers will be adequately compensated.
According to the Detailed Project Report 1,726 people are likely to get displaced once the project begins, making it the highest number of people displaced by a dam so far.
“We have decided ten thousand units of power will be provided free till the end of life line of the project to those affected households,” said Lyonpo Khandu Wangchuk. He also said the government has provision for those who are adversely affected more than general. “Those people who lose their lands plus house and those who are totally displaced we have provision that is to help them settle down as a result of the displacement,” said the minister.
He said the government will also provide employment to one member of the family during project construction period which is six to seven years.
The Prime Minister said the government has always tried to ensure that the people displaced as a result of state activities have always been optimally compensated to the people’s satisfaction. “But of course while that is the endeavor, that does not necessarily happen to the fully satisfaction of the people, nobody likes to be displaced or nobody likes to be removed even for better compensation cash or otherwise.”
The project will require over 5,300 acres of land. A dam will be constructed eight kilometres away from Phuentsholing town. The dam will be fed by two rivers, Pachu and Amochhu. The backwater of Pachu will stretch 11 kilometres and Amochhu’s backwater will stretch 23 kilometres submerging 33 villages from five gewogs of Samtse and Chhukha.
