Ramban, Sep 13: The Sawalkote Joint Action Committee (SJAC), while welcoming the opening of technical bids for the first construction lot of the Sawalkote Hydro-Electric Project (HEP), on Sunday reiterated its demand for justice, fair compensation, comprehensive rehabilitation and resettlement besides assured employment opportunities for project-affected people of Ramban.
SJAC, in a meeting held at dak bungalow, Ramban, deliberated on the latest developments concerning the project, particularly the opening of technical bids for Lot-I, involving major construction works estimated at Rs 5,129 Cr, on September 9 and termed it as an important milestone in the long-pending project.
SJAC president and advocate Fairoz Khan chaired the meeting, attended by members of the core committee, legal experts, civil society representatives and residents likely to be affected by the project.
The committee took note of the technical bidding process in which Adani Infra India Limited, Hindustan Construction Company Limited (HCC), Larsen & Toubro Limited (L&T), Patel Engineering Limited and Rithwik Projects Private Limited have been shortlisted.
Welcoming the development, Khan congratulated the people of Ramban and members of the SJAC, saying that the opening of the bids marked a significant step towards taking the prestigious hydropower project forward after years of delays.
“Our fight is not against development, but for justice. We have always supported development and nation-building but Ramban cannot be expected to bear around 88 per cent of the submergence burden while the future of project-affected families remains uncertain,” Khan said.
He stressed that the commencement of the bidding process should be followed by transparent, time-bound execution and a clearly defined mechanism to safeguard the rights and interests of affected families.
During the meeting, participants discussed the social, legal, economic and environmental implications of the project. Legal advisor advocate Muzaffar Lone and senior committee members Mudasir Azmat, among others, participated in the deliberations.
The SJAC reiterated its seven-point charter of demands, calling for timely and transparent execution of the project with a publicly notified completion schedule and proper implementation of all applicable laws governing land acquisition and rehabilitation. The committee demanded fair and timely compensation to affected landowners in accordance with applicable law, including provisions of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 (RFCTLARR Act).
It also sought priority for qualified local youth of Ramban in employment, contracts, supply chains, transportation and vehicle hiring generated by the project, maintaining that the people whose land and resources would contribute to the project should receive a meaningful share of its economic benefits.
The committee further demanded a comprehensive rehabilitation and resettlement package for displaced and affected families, covering adequate civic amenities, livelihood protection, housing, rehabilitation assistance and wage security.
Another major concern raised during the meeting was the likely impact of project-related construction on existing infrastructure.
The SJAC sought a clear and publicly accessible plan regarding road connectivity, tunnel alignments, diversions and other infrastructure that could be affected by the project.
The committee also called for a review of land acquired in the past but allegedly left unutilised. It sought restoration of such land to the original owners wherever legally permissible or reassessment of compensation in accordance with the applicable legal framework.
Given the fragile geology of the Chenab valley, the SJAC stressed the need for strict environmental safeguards during project execution. It called for scientific management of excavated material and construction waste and adequate measures to protect water sources, habitations, agricultural land and the surrounding ecosystem from unscientific dumping, blasting and other construction-related impacts.
The committee resolved to closely monitor the financial bid opening and subsequent contract-award process and said it would continue to raise the concerns of project-affected families through peaceful and democratic means.
The SJAC maintained that the advancement of the Sawalkote HEP should go hand in hand with fair compensation, dignified rehabilitation, environmental protection and tangible local benefits, asserting that development would be meaningful only when the interests of the affected population were adequately protected.
