Villagers to protest as pvt hydropower firm fails to provide relief for damages

Residents of Chowki and Baladhi villages have said that they would start a protest from tomorrow over not receiving compensation for damages they suffered after a barrage of Malana Hydropower Project-I gave way due to a cloudburst upstream on July 31.

A few houses, two temples, some other buildings and cultivable land were washed away downstream in Chowki and Baladhi villages due to flooding of the Malana nullah.

A villager identified as Bhagat Singh alleged that they suffered huge losses due to the flaw in hydropower projects upstream. He said, “We have sent memorandums to the government and the administration many times and also requested to consider our demands. But till now, none of our demand has been met and neither our problems solved.”

Local panchayat president alleged that they had received only assurances and no financial assistance to compensate damages suffered by villagers. He further alleged that the administration was neither conducting an inspection of damage to the property in the area nor was any official taking care of villagers’ well-being.

He said villagers would hold a sit-in against the government and the administration from tomorrow and also halt works of both the private hydropower projects upstream. He said, “The protest would continue till the authorities concerned compensate us for damages suffered due to flooding of villages and ensure that our lands are once again fit for growing crops safely.”