Tahir Mushtaq
Early Times Report
Ramban, Jan 28: Before getting a final nod from the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MOEF) for the proposed 1856 MW Sawlakot Hydel Project in Ramban district of J&K, the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) organized a third round of public hearing here today to seek opinion of all those who will be dislodged from their native places due to the construction of this project.
Given the assignment, the SPCB today held its 3rd round of Public hearing at village Tangar in district Ramban to hear the suggestions and opinions of local villagers.
According to an SPCB official, the views of villagers who are likely to be affected by this project was video graphed and will be sent to the MOEF for taking a final decision for the construction of this project.
At the onset of meeting, on behalf of the SPCB, Jammu, Kuldeep Bhan, Divisional Officer, PCB, Ramban briefed the gathering about the project and also made them aware about the benefits of project to public once the said project gets completed.
"During the meeting detailed presentation was made by the Dwaipayan Dutta of M/S R.S.Enviro Link Technologies Pvt. Ltd., Gurgaon about the said Project, its environmental management Plan and other technicalities involved in the project, official added.
Official also added that residents while highlighting their issues rued the delay in the beginning of the construction of this Project. They said it will be a prime source of employment in the region which would largely benefit the locals and improve socio economic status of people of area.
"Apart from this, the residents also raised the diverse issues concerning the ecological balance, forest degradation, pollution control, rehabilitation and compensation to the affected or dislodged families and the job opportunities to the local skilled and unskilled unemployed persons, he added.
Nodal Officer, J&K Power Development Corporation (JKPDC), Vijay Nagri also shared various technicalities of the proposed project with the public and addressed the queries raised by the public.
Dr. Yashpal Senior scientist JKPCB, Jammu represented the Regional Director in the function and gave detailed view of the project with regard to its environmental clearance and importance of this public hearing.
Earlier speaking on the occasion the chief guest, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Ramban, Babu Ram, Collector, Sawlakot exhorted the JKPDC and other concerning agencies to take care of the concerns and welfare of the locals expected to be affected ,on priority and accordingly forward the recommendations to the government so that more and more local unemployed youth are skilled and employed in the upcoming project.
Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Gool, Zameer Ahmed Rishu, Ashok Nanda, Executive Engineer, JKPDC, Sawlakot, Hydel Project, Rakesh Sharma, Executive Engineer, Civil Constructions Division also were present on this occasion. |
