Officials of THDC India limited were pulled up by public representatives for the delay in provision of Government assistance to the numerous number of people affected by the Tehri/Koteshwar hydro electricity project. This and other issues were discussed in the meeting of the sub committee formed to study problems resulting from construction of the hydro power project chaired by the State Urban Development Minister Pritam Singh Panwar.
The sub committee members questioned the departmental officials for neglecting the welfare of local residents. It was pointed out that the land plots, buildings and shops allocated to the Tehri dam urban displaced had not been registered under the circle rate.
The THDC had presented a budgetary requirement of about `10.06 crore to facilitate the registry for these displaced persons. The budgetary demand for these works had been presented to the Central Government but since then the THDC has not yet been able to secure this amount from the Government of India which shows that it is not serious when it comes to the problems being faced by the dam-displaced.
The sub committee members stated that due to the negligence of THDC the land registry and sale-deeds have not been facilitated for the dam-affected displaced in New Tehri, Kedarpuram, Ajabpur Kalan and Indirapuram. Panwar said that execution of important tasks including water-electricity supply in Dobra village and construction of the Chinyalisaud bridge should be accelerated to complete the said tasks in a time bound manner. The THDC is responsible for provision of infrastructural facilities but the affected areas do not even have basic facilities. The THDC is simply fulfilling a formality in the name of conducting survey whereas the condition of the acquired areas and the displaced persons is a cause for serious concern, said Panwar.
The Minister also directed the officials to take necessary action to resolve the problems being faced by the Koteshwar market displaced.