Asif Iqbal Naik
Early Times Report
Kishtwar Mar 26 : The families affected by prestigious 1000 MW Pakal-Doal hydro project to be constructed on river Marru-Sudhar in the district today demanded realignment of the road proposed to be constructed from Kwar bridge to Head Race Tunnel and Surge Shaft.
They demanded realignment of road via Tangi village through the local middle school. When realigned, the road would pass through the state land, saving their land. Realignment would not only shorten the distance by 1.5 km, but would also save their land, they said.
The project is to be constructed at an estimated cost of nearly Rs 8,000 cr under joint venture by NHPC and CVPPP Ltd and is likely to continue hitting road blockade due to cancellation of bidding by CVPPP.
Sources said a junior engineer, who was deputed by GM of CVPPP, Kishtwar, P B Jain, had given his report against the new road alignment, terming it as not 'feasible'. On the basis of this report, the GM alloted the tender to a local contractor who had quoted 70 pc below rate.
The GM had also sanctioned about 8 km road stretch for dumping of material. Locals demanded that a joint team of officials from administration and CVPPP should be sent to the area for proper survey of the road's realignment and urged upon Managing Director M S Babbu and Managing Director, JKPDC, Kifayat Rizvi to look into the matter personally.
"Collector Land acquisition (ACR), Kishtwar, is ready to provide us compensation, but we are not in hurry. The GM's statements with regard to our rehabilitation have raised doubts in our minds," they said and added that they would not give their land till CVPPP and JKPDC did not give them court agreements.
"We have seen in past how NHPC, JP, GVK limited and other companies betrayed people. We have witnessed the condition of displaced families of 450 MW Baglihar power project, so we are not ready to take any risk," people said.
They said that MD CVPPP should visit and camp at Kishtwar for finalising the deal with project affected families. They also called upon him to open CVPPP office at Kishtwar so that they can plead their cases for their quick 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," they questioned. They said that CVPPP should also tell about the number of local Youth absorbed by them.
"We want salaries at par with regular employees of CVPPP, beside job security in case the contractor abandons the project like in case of Rattle project," they said.
It is pertinent to mention that on February 25,2016, Deputy Commissioner, Kishtwar, Ghulam Nabi Balwan, who is also the chairmen of Rehabilitation Plan for the affected families, had chaired a meeting with the project affected families, which was also attended by the GM, Senior Manager Ragu Nath Sharma, Consultant Raiz Ahmed Zarger and other officials of CVPPP. In the meeting, people had demanded realignment of road, enhancement in land compensation and job security for the project affected families.
The people alleged that wrong entries were made by revenue authorities in the record and demanded re-verification of the affected families' list
In the meeting, GM Jain had said that "CVPPP will be guaranteed a job to each displaced family whose infrastructure will come in project alignment". He had also offered 10 marlas of land 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 would look into the demand of realignment of the road.
He had also assured the people that in case the company, that was awarded the contract, abandoned the project, CVPPP would provide them salaries. He said the final decision was to be taken by the government and the senior officials of CVPPP. |
