Tehri controversy rears its head up again

Several political groups in Uttaranchal are using the controversial Tehri Dam project as a votebank tool, making false promises to win over displaced locals ahead of elections in the state.

BJP MLAs and workers are busy these days charging the ruling Congress government of being ignorant about the rights of Tehri residents, some of whom have been suffering since the construction of the dam began.

The dam affects one town (Tehri), 37 villages fully and 88 villages partially. Urban families totalling 5291 have been completely affected by the dam's construction, while 4278 rural families have been partially affected. Nearly 2473 rural families have been fully rehabilitated, while 2539 rural families are still to be rehabilitated. Partially-affected families are to be compensated in cash for the land acquired from them.

Public representatives, especially those belonging to the opposition BJP, say that rehabilitation is closely linked to the emotions of the masses and needs to be raised in order to provide them their due rights.

They allege that the question of rehabilitation has been avoided for quite a long time and people have to suffer for no reason at all. The BJP has demanded that the government should lay down proper rehabilitation policies to make sure that everyone gets a house on time.

It has alleged that the government has forced people to move away from their land and property without making arrangements for rehabilitation. The government has also put the future of the youth at stake in the quest for fulfilling its own political motives.

"The local issues relating to the Tehri Dam like employment opportunities, rehabilitation and developmental projects announced by the government will be definitely dominate the elections manifesto," said Lakhi Ram Joshi, a former state minister and BJP leader.

The ruling Congress has termed the BJP charges an election stunt. It believes the people understand the problems of the government and is confident of earning public goodwill and cooperation.

"The people of Tehri have finally acknowledged the efforts of the state government and for which, we are thankful to the Chief Minister. The people have understood the positive effects of Tehri Dam. I am personally trying to eradicate the problems by December 2006. By 15 December, the Siri Taxi services will be installed from Hrishikesh to Pratap Nagar, thus facilitating the transport system," said P S Bisht, MLA, Congress.

Leaders from other political parties such as the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD) believe that the referendum will certainly go against the ruling party, and the public will demand a solution from other political parties.

"It (Tehri Dam) will be a big question in the next elections. The offenders will have to face the consequences of their policies. Even other political parties will have to convince the local people about their rehabilitation policies and provision of basic amenities," claimed Ved Uniyal, General Secretary, Uttarakhand Kranti Dal.

According to one guesstimate, the Tehri Dam will eventually submerge 5200-hectares of land.

The district authorities contend that 96 per cent rehabilitation has been done and no one lives in the old Tehri town. But in the last Lok Sabha elections, 11 polling booths had been set up in old Tehri. Strangely, on July 20, the administration had issued 44 notices to people in old Tehri, asking them to immediately evacuate. (ANI)

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