The 33-day-long sit-in by the villagers of Dhari demanding compensation vis-à-vis Srinagar Hydro Power Project was suspended on Monday following the agitators’ talks with the district administration and officers of GVK — the company engaged in the construction of the power plant — in the presence of Srinagar MlA Ganesh Godiyal on Sunday.
The agitators had earlier given the ultimatum that sit-in would turn into a full-blown stir if the compensation has not been paid to the villagers by February 28. On the other hand, Godiyal assured the agitating villagers that the talks with the State Government will be arranged before March 6. During the sit-in, the agitators had stalled the construction work of the executing agency GVK.
To thaw the stalemate, a dialogue involving the agitators, District Magistrate Chandra Shekhar Bhatt, MlA Srinagar Assembly constituency Ganesh Godiyal and coordinator, GVK was held on Sunday. Godiyal asked GVK to act according the agreements done with the villagers regarding compensatory payment for the acquired land by February 28. Mollified by the initiative, the villagers decided to postpone their stir till February 28.
They, however, warned of vigorous agitation if the commitment regarding the compensation is not met by the agreed date. Regarding other demands of the villagers, Godiyal said he would take initiative to arrange talks between the villagers and the State Government before Holi. The main demands of the agitators include land being provided to them instead of the land acquired, payment of compensation, permanent jobs for the families whose lands have been acquired for the project and the dam, construction of Dhari Devi Temple and some others.