30 Aug 2005, By Atul Chauhan
As the first phase of a controversial dam in Uttaranchal nears completion, displaced villagers have accused the state authorities of not giving them enough compensation.
The Tehri Dam project, which has entered its 28th year, has displaced about 100,000 people, many of whom say they are still homeless, despite the government’s claims of providing them with adequate rehabilitation and compensation.
Residents of most of the areas, which have been partially or completely submerged, have been protesting against a new township, saying it does not have adequate facilities like schools and markets.
A new power grid, which is expected to be operational by the end of this year, would submerge many other villages in Old Tehri, pockets of which are still habitated.
The opposition BJP has taken up the cudgel of the dispossessed, and accused the ruling Congress party of red tape.
In 2002 we had almost cleared the area but then the Congress government came to power and since then the process has stopped due to the lack of interest of the government and red tape.The Congress government has been working only to rehabilitate Congressmen. It is working to provide them with facilities, the chief of the BJP Uttaranchal unit, B.S Koshyari, said.
But the ruling Congress party said the state has decided not to make the project operational till the villagers were compensated.
We discussed this issue with the chief minister, who has decided to stall the closure of tunnel till the time the villagers are not provided with proper solutions, said Harish Rawat president of the state Congress unit.
However, the displaced people said the rehabilitation package was getting delayed because of bureaucratic apathy.
The rehabilitation process is stuck as there is an unequal distribution of money. People who have come from outside are getting full compensation, but people who should actually receive the money are not getting the money. It is all because of bribes. We are waiting for developments from the governments end, said Vikram, a villager.
Authorities claim that over Rs.10 billion ($2.3million) have already been spent on rehabilitation of the displaced villagers so far.
The multi-purpose dam is being built by the Tehri Hydro Development Corporation and is the world fourth biggest dam. The project was started way back in 1976 as a joint venture between the federal government and the then Uttar Pradesh state government.
Estimated to be built at five billion rupees initially, the cost of the dam has since escalated by more than 10 times.
Almost 42 billion rupees have been spent on the project, which when completed, will generate 2,500 megawatt electricity. It will also control floods in the downstream plains and provide water to irrigate 270,000 hectares of land.
Environmentalists and scientists have been opposing the construction of the 260-metre high dam, as they say it is coming up in an earthquake-prone area.
News Source: http://www.newkerala.com


