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| Power Ministry angry with State Government, summons Taj, Shabir Khan to Delhi | | | Bashir Assad
SRINAGAR, May 8: Apparently disturbed over prolonged suspension of work on Uri-II Hydroelectric Power Project, Union Power Ministry today summoned Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control, Taj Mohiudin and Minister of State for Power, Shabir Ahmad Khan to New Delhi and impressed upon them to facilitate resumption of work on the prestigious project.
It merits a mention here that work on project was suspended after protest demonstrations against National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) constructing Uri-II power project had broken in Uri for non-implementation of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between State Government and Government of India guaranteeing employment of locals in the project during which a class 12th student was killed in the firing of Central Industrial Forces.
The situation took ugly turn when protesters forced NHPC to suspend work on the project on January 2, 2012 since then the work has not been resumed till date which has become a cause of concern for Power Ministry which fears cast escalation to a great extent.
Sources said that Union Power Minister, Sushil Kumar Shinde shot a letter to Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah the other day asking him to depute Taj and Khan to Shram Shakti Bhavan Delhi for a meeting with the Power Ministry to resolve the issue. Sources further said that no sooner he received the letter, Omar directed Taj Mohiudin and Shabir Ahmad Khan to attend the meeting scheduled for Tuesday morning with the Power Ministry. Taj and Khan left for Delhi in the morning flight. Soon after arriving in New Delhi Taj and Khan took to Shram Shakti Bhavan where they met Shinde and other officials of the Ministry. Sources said that Chairman NHPC was also present in the meeting.
Sources added that Taj and Khan briefed the Power Ministry about the situation and reportedly sought intervention of the Ministry in implementation of Memorandum of Understanding reached upon between NHPC and the State Government in regard to the employment opportunity for locals.
However, it was not immediately known whether Taj was summoned in the capacity of local MLA or PHE Minister spearheading the campaign for return of NHPC run power projects to the State. "NHPC has not employed a single Class III and Class IV employee from local area Salamabad as per the MoU so we demand our share as per the Cabinet order. We are forced to protest as nobody pays any heed to our genuine demand," alleged Haji Mohammed Khan, a local.
"We have provided our land against nominal compensation for construction of power project. My brother is an MBA and we want job for him that he deserves, "said another local Shafkat Aziz Banday. Official sources in NHPC told that attempts were made to persuade the representatives of the State Government with a written assurance that NHPC will implement MoU between Government of India and State Government so that work on power project is restored at the earliest.
"Work on power project has been disrupted as locals don't allow NHPC to resume the work on the project. Official sources said. "We have been doing various civic and developmental activities in the project area but the issue of employing locals would be taken into account after directions from Government," added the official sources.
Meanwhile, a high level international delegation of court of Arbitration visited Gurez here in north Kashmir today to inspect the dam site of Kishen-Ganga Power Project.
The team had visited the area in June last year and inspected dam site in Badwan village and diversion tunnel. |
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