Lurhi project affected to be compensated : DC
Deputy Commissioner Shimla Aditya Negi presided over a meeting here today to resolve the problem of Luhri power project affected people and directed the SJVNL management to ensured the settlement of claims of project affected people according to the prescribed policy so that the economic loss to the farmers could be compensated. He said that a the damage caused to the crops of the farmers due to construction of the project, should be compensated after assessing the crop loss. DC directed the company management to provide ecnomic relief so that it could be distributed among the farmers. MLAs Rampur Nand Lal and Theog Rakesh Singha, Zilla Parishad President Chandra Prabha Negi and Panchayat heads expressed their dissatisfaction with the policy set in this regard. The Deputy Commissioner appealed to the representatives to submit a report in this regard. He said that if there is a need for some changes in the Resettlement and rehabilitation policy of 2011, then the report of the proceedings of today’s meeting and the report of Gram Panchayat Nirath earlier would be presented to the government to make changes in the policy so that changes can be made in this policy. The farmers are protesting for last three months alleging that project construction have affected the delicates flowering process in the orchards due to dust and soil pollution caused disturbances to pollination leading to massive damage to their apple crops. Farmers are also concerned that relentless blasting and disrturbance in the ecology and environment posing threat to their future livilihood of fruit production. DC said that issue need to be settled through policy intervention and after changing it could be implemented in the farmers benefit.Referring to the demand of providing employment to the affected families under the Resettlement and Rehabilitation Policy, he said that this matter has been sent to the Divisional Commissioner for approval. He also asked SJVNL to provide jobs to the affected families if there is a possibility in the companies till the approval comes. DC also ordered to constitute a Committee under the supervision of Sub-Divisional Officers Kumarsain and Rampur to conduct a review survey to know how many affected families are there to provided employment. He also directed to include Panchayat Pradhans in this committee. He said that the arbitrariness of the contractors of SJVNL could be stopped by the formation of this committee. He directed to evaluate the cracks lying in the houses due to blasting and also ordered SJVNL to give money to the affected families in this regard.On this occasion, Superintendent of Police Monika Bhatungru, Sub-Divisional Officer Rampur Surendra Mohan, Pradhan Gram Panchayat Nirath Reena Devi, Datnagar Rajendra Thakur, Deputy Principal Neerath Prem Chauhan and Deputy Chief Delath were also present.