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| Delayed 1000 MW Pakal-Dul HEP adversely affects rehabilitation measures | | Families demand compensation at existing rates, written job assurance | |
Asif Iqbal Naik
Early Times Report
Kishtwar, Feb 25: The prestigious 1000 MW Pakal-Dul Hydro Electrical Power Project to be constructed on river Marru-Sudhar in Kishtwar District though failed to take off even after 23 years and is likely to get further delayed after government order for cancelation of all the biddings as the contractors bids for the project was on higher rates. The affected families whose land comes under the ambit of the project to be executed by state government and NHPC under joint venture through Chenab Valley Power Project Private (CVPPP) Limited hardened its stand and demanded compensation as per existing rates and a written job assurance from none other than Managing Director CVPPP.
As per the details available with "Early Times", Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar Ghulam Nabi Balwan who is also the chairmen of Rehabilitation Plan for the affected families today held a meeting with the project affected which was also attended by General Manager Pakal-Dul P B Jain , Senior Manager Ragu Nath Sharma, Consultant Raiz Ahmed Zarger and other officials of the CVPPP.
During the course of the meeting the people demanded realignment of road from Kwar bride to Head Race Tunnel to Surge Shaft via village Tangi (Through Middle school Tangi) via village Arzi up to Surge Shaft added that the new alignment involved the state land and will save the villagers who are coming under the present road alignment added that the realignment will not only shorten the distance by 1.5 KM, but also involved less acquisition of private land.
The people said that less land compensation is being offered to them as land compensation which is far less than the existing rates and demanded that land compensation in above the market value should be given to them, beside also demanded job surety for not only those families whose infrastructure comes in project alignment, but also for those whose land comes in project alignment. The people said that they were harassed by the NHPC after they surrender their land to them added that NHPC is yet to provide compensation to few families who were affected due to construction of Dool-Hasti project Dam.
The people informed the DC Kishtwar that wrong entries were made by the revenue authorities in the record and demanded re-verification of the affected families list and laid stress to Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar for taking written affidavit from the concern agencies with regard to the promises whatsoever be made by them to the displaced families. They said that affected families of Baglihar Project and Rattle project had already suffered on account of promises made to them at the time of acquiring their land.
General Manager P B Jain while responding to the public concern said that CVPPP will guaranteed a job to each displaced family whose infrastructure will come in project alignment, beside also offered additional 10 Marlas plot or its value and fixed deposit on the name of affected families in addition to the land and structural compensation and assured them that the department will look into the demand of realignment of the road, but refuse to give anything written in black and white and put the ball rolling into the court of DC Kishtwar and senior government officials including MD CVPPP. He also assured the people that in case the company that will be awarded the contract abandon the project, CVPPP will provide them the salaries. He said that the final decision is to be taken by the government and the senior officials of CVPPP.
Reacting to the public concern, DC Kishtwar assured the affected families that administration will tried its best to strike a good deal for the project affected families, added that he will write a detail note to higher authorities and will mention the issues, concern and demands raised by them. He also orders for constitution of high level committee that will verify the list of the affected families. He also assured the people that he will also personal visit the area for on spot assessment of the concern raised by them.
While talking to "Early Times", the people demanded that MD CVPPP should visit and camp at Kishtwar for finalizing the deal with the project affected families and said that instead of opening its office in Jammu or Srinagar, CVPP should open its office in Kishtwar so that they can plead its cases for effective disposal. "All projects to be constructed in joint venture by NHPC and state government through CVPPP are in Kishtwar---- then what is the fun to\ open its office in Jammu or Srinagar" question people. They said that CVPPP should also bring in public notice about the number of local youths absorbed by them in CVPPP. "We are not beggar that they will offer us Rs.6000 or Rs.8000 monthly salaries--- we want salaries at par with regular employees of CVPPP, beside job security in case the contractor abandon the project like in case of Rattle project" said another person.
It is pertinent to mention that only in the month of January this year, the district administration prepared a tentative compensation of Rs. 23 crore for the project affected families, but the said amount was yet to be deposited with collector land acquisition Kishtwar. The project which continuously hits the road blockade for nearly 23 due to official and political apathy will be constructed at an estimated cost of nearly Rs. 8000 Crore under joint venture by NHPC and CVPPP Ltd.
This prestigious power project was first identified in the year 1992 by Central Water Commission and the DPR of the project was submitted in the year 2005 by NHPC and was finalized for the execution in the year 2005. NHPC also floated tender for execution and civil works in the year 2008, but with the intervention of state government, the said tender notice stands cancelled and state government during Ghulam Nabi Azad regime constitute joint venture named as CVPPP Ltd for execution of 8 hydro power projects having capacity over 6000 MW including 1000 MW Pakal Dul.
At an initial stage the project cost is expected to be Rs. 1000 Crore, but due to 23 years delay the power project costs touches Rs. 8000 Crore in 2012 and is expected to increase further in case there is any further delay. CVPPP Ltd. has floated fresh tender in the month of April 2012 and the same was opened in the month of September 2012, but even after the lapse of nearly 3 years, the final contract hasn't been awarded till last week when same was again canceled.
As per the fresh DPR, E level of the project will be 1710 meters as compared to earlier 1805 meters above the sea level thus reduces the acquisition of area falling under forest and wild life Act. The project is said to be an important venture for the state government, since it did not comes under the ambit of Indus-Water treaty agreement. With the execution of work on this prestigious power projects, nearly 6000 skilled and unskilled unemployed youths of the state will get job opportunities. |
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