Early Times Report
Srinagar, Aug 17: The role of Jammu & Kashmir Forest department is under scanner as the department has allegedly failed to recover compensation from the power company which is executing a project under Northern Region System Strengthening Scheme (NRSS-29). Sources have revealed that hundreds of forest trees have been axed from Baramulla to Rajouri. The transmission line of the NRSS -29 passes through 11 districts of state including Budgam , Shopian, Poonch and Rajouri.
Details available with Early Times reveal that Forest department has failed to recover legitimate compensation from M/S Sterlite Grid a private company that is executing the project. Sources say that in most of the forest areas, officials concerned have not made the actual assessment of damages caused to Forests. The officers have even failed to recover the compensation in many Forest blocks and ranges which has not only caused damage to environment but has caused a loot to state exchequer also.
As reported already the contracting agencies namely M/S Sterlite and M/S Unitech are allegedly giving huge bribes to Govt officials especially from Forest, Revenue and Police departments.
Affected villagers and farmers in many villages allege that majority of the affected farmers are not paid compensation at all while as their land has been turned useless.
Local residents in Budgam and Baramulla allege that the payment of fair compensation is made only to blue eyed people. Sources say that at many places the line passes over agricultural / horticulture land but no compensation has been paid as the commercial and agricultural value of land has come down drastically.
The Northern Region System Strengthening Scheme-29 is the largest private sector transmission project awarded in the country till date. The project is critical for meeting the power requirements of the state of Jammu & Kashmir. The existing transmission corridor passes through the Pir Panjal region, which is prone to landslides, resulting in the snapping of transmission lines and towers. To mitigate these issues, an alternative route has been proposed through the NRSS to ensure that the corridor is not affected by landslides and has 100 per cent uptime. The project will deliver over 1,000 MW of electricity from Punjab to the Kashmir Valley by strengthening the National Grid.
The Government of India is after these companies to undertake necessary measures for ensuring completion of the project within stipulated time, but as the companies fail to fulfil genuine demands of the aggrieved farmers the project completion may get delayed by another 1 year.
Sources say that lot of bungling has taken place in Kellar, Kandajan, Watrad Khansahib, Kachwari Khansahib, Bonen and Kutbal villages of Budgam and Shopian districts. |
