Farmers have called a halt to work on the 412 Megawatt Rampur Hydel Project, claiming that project authorities have gone back on their promise to provide an adequate compensation package. The Satlej Hydel Power Corporation is overseeing the project. "In 2006, the project authorities had promised that they would provide us with water, money for schools and other facilities. It has been a year and nothing has been done. Our demand is that we be provided water and that young people should be employed," said Gangi Devi, a farmer.
The farmers also claimed that work on the tunnel has shaken up the area's soil strata, drying up all other water sources.
"The environment is getting destroyed due to pollution. Our agricultural output is being affected. Also other water sources are all drying up," said Bhag Singh, another farmer.
The farmers are affiliated to six village councils in Kullu District. They said they would continue their agitation, till their demands are met.
Project authorities, however, claim that all obstructions have been cleared and that the work on the project is going on smoothly.
"The people around Kunni and Gushai must be having some problems, and they had created some obstruction for one or two days. As far as I know that problem has been taken care of. Our administration and management are in regular consultation with the people and the work is going on. There is no such problem as such due to which the work is being stopped," said Sushil Mahajan, the Deputy General Manager of the Rampur Hydel Project.
The project is being built at a cost of 25 billion rupees. Once completed, the project would reduce power shortages in the northern region.
The Himachal Pradesh Government has embarked upon several hydel projects to tap the state's generation potential.
