Settle Pong oustees’ cases: Himachal CM to Centre

Shimla, July 9

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur today urged the Centre to settle the cases of Pong Dam oustees in accordance with the decision of the Supreme Court. Thakur was speaking at the 30th meeting of the North Zonal Council in Jaipur today.

“People have suffered the pain of displacement for the Pong dam and other projects. About 2.25 lakh acres were reserved in Rajasthan to rehabilitate 16,352 displaced Himachalis but so far only 8,713 displaced persons have been provided land,” he said.

The meeting was presided over by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, which was attended by Chief Ministers and Lieutenant Governors of eight states and UTs. Issues related to law and order, internal security, border areas and inter-state water issues were discussed at the meeting.

Thakur said Himachal, having a share of 7.19 per cent in the BBMB projects, had not been made a full time member of the BBMB. “Despite 65,563 acres land for the Bhakra project and additional lands in Dehar and Pong projects of the Beas being submerged, Himachal has not been given the right to use electricity and water from these reservoirs,” he said.

The Chief Minister suggested a few amendments to the Forest Conservation Act, 1980. He also took up the issue of four-laning of the Pinjore-Baddi-Nalagarh road and urged the Centre for the speedy redressal of the long pending issue of rail connectivity with the Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh industrial area.

The CM said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had laid the foundation stone of the Rs 7,000 crore Renuka dam project to be constructed on the Giri in Sirmaur district on December 27, 2021.

“The project will produce 200 million units of power annually and meet 40 per cent of the drinking water requirement of Delhi,” he said. This ambitious project would prove to be important in meeting the energy and drinking water needs of several states, he added.

Expressing concern over the drug abuse that has emerged as a major challenge for society, he urged all states to take a pledge to eradicate the problem. He also took up the matter of the telecom connectivity in 585 uncovered remote villages.

Only 50 pc got land in Rajasthan

People have suffered the pain of displacement for the Pong dam and other projects. About 2.25 lakh acres were reserved in Rajasthan to rehabilitate 16,352 displaced Himachalis but only 8,713 persons have been provided land, Jai Ram Thakur says.