Thousands await free power from 900-MW Baghlihar project, commissioned in 2008
Thousands of villagers of Baghlihar hamlet in Chanderkot and its surrounding villages in Ramban district have yet to get the promised free power from the 900-MW Baghlihar hydel power project since the first 450-MW unit of the project was commissioned by then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in October 2008.
The disgruntled residents have unanimously decided to protest peacefully on the day of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit here on November 7 for commissioning of the 450-MW unit II of the power house.
“We have to take this unwanted step. Then Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, in the presence of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Union Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, had promised to supply 2 per cent of the power free of cost to the area within five-km of radius of the project as per the detailed project report,” said Quasim Ali Bhutto, president, Beopar Mandal, Chanderkot.
“The adage nearer to church further from God is apt here. The power situation in this area is the worst in the district. We are experiencing low voltage, frequent outages and unscheduled power supply through worn-out infrastructure. The proposed receiving station has not been established despite selecting its site twice in the past decade,” he added.
The issue was one of the many issues raised during a shopkeeper-police meeting chaired by Ramban ASP Arun Gupta at the police station in Chanderkot on Monday.
“We have been denied basic facilities despite selling hundreds of acres of our land for this project, facing the brunt of environmental pollution, losing lives of many workers while working on the project and having a constant threat of landslides, earthquakes and climate change as this project is in Seismic Zone V,” rued Mushtaq Ahmed, sarpanch, Chanderkot.
When contacted, Parasram Angurana, Chief Engineer (Power Generation), Power Development Corporation, Chanderkot, said, “Sorry, but as it is a policy matter, I cannot say anything in this regard. Speak to the Principal Secretary, Power, or other high-ups as a new Managing Director, Power Development Corporation, has not been posted yet.”
