Tehri rehab: Centre to give Rs 15 cr more

The Union Power Ministry is likely to provide an additional grant of Rs 15 crore to the Uttaranchal government soon for rehabilitation of pe...

The Union Power Ministry is likely to provide an additional grant of Rs 15 crore to the Uttaranchal government soon for rehabilitation of people in the rural areas around the Tehri Dam who have been displaced by the project.

According to Uttaranchal Congress spokesman Surendra Aggarwal, the Union government had agreed to release Rs 15 crore for the purpose. Following recent protests by the villagers, Uttaranchal Congress President and Rajya Sabha member Harish Rawat had met the Union Power Secretary to seek more compensation for them. The state government had also demanded Rs 22 crore for the purpose from the ministry.

Block President of the worst-affected area in the district, Partapnagar, Jot Singh Bisht, told ENS that the compensation of Rs 20,000 per displaced family was meagre and it could now could be enhanced to Rs 1 lakh, and more than 700 rural traders who lost their shops compensated.

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Meanwhile, Uttaranchal PWD secretary Dr S S Sandhu, today visited the areas to expedite work on alternate road routes. Many roads have been submerged since the water started rising.

‘‘There is an urgent need for starting boat services in areas cut off by the reservoir particularly for students who have their schools and colleges on other side,’’ Bisht said.

As per the Tehri Hydro-Electric Development Corporation (THDC), the main agency engaged in the project, a total of 5,291 families in urban areas and 5,429 in rural areas have been rehabilitated. However, the Rehabilitation Directorate of the state government has a total 12,547 displaced families on its records.