Ministers in the cabinet sub committee on rehabilitation and resettlement in the Pancheshwar multipurpose project said that their suggestions should be included in the detailed project report and welfare of the project affected must be ensured. The Cabinet sub committee meeting was presided over by its head and irrigation Minister Satpal Maharaj here on Wednesday. The other members of the sub committee including its coordinator and Finance Minister Prakash Pant, member and urban development Minister Madan Kaushik along with agriculture Minister Subodh Uniyal were also present in the meeting.
The consultant WAPCOS limited made presentation on the background of the project, its description, expeted benefit, rehabilitation and resettlement, livelihood of the affected people, local development area plan, tourism development and other subjects.
The sub committee directed that detailed description and estimation about Government properties to be affected in the project should be prepared by the department concerned and submitted through the irrigation department to WAPCOS limited.
The detailed estimation pertaining to government schools, government hospitals, potable water facility, road and other affected aspects should be included in the detailed project report.
Maharaj said that mention should also be made in the DPR of the state’s assets which have not been transferred from Uttar Pradesh so that there is adequate availability of land for the rehabilitation and resettlement of the project affected people. Infrastructure development projects according to the geographical conditions should also be included in the DPR.
Finance Minister Prakash Pant averred that the Government is committed to protecting the interests of people to be affected by the construction of this project.
He spoke in detail with representatives of WAPCOS limited regarding the rehabilitation and resettlement of the 31,023 families to be affected by the Pancheshwar project. Provision for government hospitals, schools, potable water facility, electricity supply and roads in the places where project affected are rehabilitated should also be included in the DPR so that the families can avail of the basic facilities. He said that after drafting of suggestions in the meeting of the cabinet sub committee, the rehabilitation and resettlement policy will be prepared in the next meeting and submitted in the cabinet.
The rehabilitation and resettlement policy for Pancheshwar multipurpose project will be given final shape on the decision of the cabinet, he added. Urban development minister Madan Kaushik elicited attention on probably problems which might be faced in the rehabilitation and resettlement process. The agriculture minister Subodh Uniyal made suggestions while referring to the experience of rehabilitation and resettlement for the Tehri dam affected.