Don’t Weaken Democratic Structure To Benefit Power Producing Companies

Kulbhushan Upmanyu

(The writer is an environmentalist heading Himalaya Niti Abhiyan)

Hydropower companies and corporations had to necessarily take no objection certificate from panchayats in general areas and gram sabhas in tribal areas earlier. But now this provision has been removed and the power to issue NOC has been rested with district magistrates. Real motive to give panchayats and gram sabhas the power to issue NOCs was to strengthen the roots of democracy. It provided a platform for the project affected people to raise their problems to seek their redressal.

As magistrates do not fall in the project affected list, they will obey government’s order to save their chair. Efforts to strengthen democracy through panchayati raj at ground level began after 73rd constitutional amendment. As a result, the process to give some responsibilities and powers like issuance of NOCs to various departments began. However much still needs to be done in this direction. This move indicates that we are eroding powers of panchayats. In fact, power to issue NOC should rest with gram sabhas as they are the people affected due to projects. The power producing companies and corporations run the system to mint money with rights and benefits of affected people always remaining at the backstage.

Himachal has numerous examples where provisions in construction work are flouted by power project companies. The companies don’t consider it necessary to compensate for the loss suffered by public due to destruction of roads, wells and water mills in the area. People could be seen taking the protest route to achieve relief even in small cases. Huge amount of water is leaking from the tunnel of Chamera-III project in Chamba thus leading to destruction of Mokhri village. People here are still battling for the rehabilitation. Lanco project carried heavy blasting to make a tunnel below Kathla village resulting in cracks in village houses. It was only after protests that affected families could get some relief as the company had initially refused to accept that cracks appeared due to blasting.

It is responsibility of the government to carry all sections of the society along for inclusive growth. After earning thousands of crores, if NHPC has given Rs. 100 crore for local development, then it does not mean that people should be deprived of their democratic rights. Why Bhakra and Pong Dam oustess are still battling for rehabilitation if administrative people were so visionary?

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