Former Congress minister and sitting MLA G S Bali,who began the last leg of his padyatra from Kinnaur on Wednesday morning,reached Shimla in the evening to a rousing welcome from party workers. Earlier this month,he had taken part in two phases of padyatra from Manali to Chamba and Sirmaur to Kangra. In his journey through towns like Wangto,Tapri,Bhabanagar,Rampur and Theog,Bali he has addressed Congress workers who assembled in large numbers to receive him. While I was at Karcham Wangto,where the Japyee Group has set up a 1,000 MW hydel project,I was shocked to see how the company has been allowed to plunder the environment. Yet,locals have not been given compensation for their land and resources. They have been denied jobs at the project site,though it is mandatory to employ 70 per cent Himachalis in the work, Bali said after reaching Shimla. He added that the BJP government had given full shelter to company and granted several undue concessions. Thousands of trees have been allowed to be felled for the company to lay its transmission lines and build power house. The debris have filled the Sutlej river. In Vidhan Sabha,I had asked for a CBI probe into the Jaypee affair,but the government is not willing to do so, Bali said The yatra will end at Kangra temple two days later,said a spokesperson for Bali.
