OUR CORRESPONDENT
KOKRAJHAR: The Chief Executive Member (CEM) of BTC, Pramod Boro on Monday came down heavily on M/s Hayen Hydro Power Project Ltd. built at Champamati Irrigation Project (Major) at Nangdarbari in Chirang district bordering Kokrajhar saying that the company had not been paying tax to the council as per its agreement since its inception in 2007. He also said the company had miserably failed to utilize the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) fund to provide free electricity to the local villagers of 1 km radius.
On Monday, the CEM of BTC, Pramod Boro visited the Champamati Irrigation project to oversee the distribution of water to the farmers. He alleged that due to setting up of the hydro power project of 4 MW in the eastern distribution canal, the flow of water to the paddy fields had been affected. He said that the company had not paid revenue to BTC since inception. He also said that the hydro power project had been generating only 1.5 MW of power in place of proposed 4 MW. He further said that the council would call the authority of Hayen Hydro Power Project Company Pvt. Ltd. to discuss the misuse of irrigation waters and failure of paying tax to the council.
Boro told a section of media persons that the Government of India had not given interest to promoting hydro power projects in India due to ecological impact. He said, "We have a lot of potential for mini hydro projects in our region but the government has not taken any interest on hydro power projects on the ground of ecological impact. If the hydro power projects are built in our rivers, the downstream could be affected and there will be serious impact on ecology," he said, adding that his government was not giving interest in setting up of more hydro projects in the rivers. He also said that his government would emphasize on setting up of bio projects or solar projects to generate power.
M/s Hayen Hydel Power Project Company Pvt. Limited is a special purpose company promoted by M/s Bodoland Infrastructure Development Company Limited (BIDC), a joint venture company of Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Service Limited (IL&FS), New Delhi and Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), Kokrajhar.