No compromise on Renuka dam,ball in Delhi’s court: Dhumal

The Union Ministry of Environment and Forests has put the project on hold,rejecting the proposal for diversion of forestland.

Dhumal said when the state government was seeking help from Delhi to end stalemate on excessive commission of six per cent charged from the state’s fruit growers,the Congress government decided to sidetrack the issue and instead helped the traders and commission agents.

“Despite a law passed by the previous government,proposing commission to be charged from the buyers instead of the sellers (farmers),the Delhi government repealed the law and reverted to the old system of charging commission from the fruit growers. Delhi now needs drinking water and it’s the duty of its government to show equal concern towards for our issues,” said Dhumal.

He added: “Himachal has already burnt its fingers. The families displaced because of Bhakra dam,which brought prosperity to Punjab,and Pong Dam that supplies water to Rajasthan are still wandering for settlements. Himachal has also been denied its legitimate share from these projects. This is a good lesson for us to go slow in case of Renuka Dam.”