The Government has formulated a comprehensive Rehabilitation and Resettlement (R&R) plan for the Sawalkote Hydroelectric Project, taking into account the extent of impact on the local communities.
This was stated by Minister for Jal Shakti, Javed Ahmed Rana, while replying to a question raised by MLA Pawan Kumar Gupta in the Legislative Assembly, on behalf of Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah.
The Minister said that the rehabilitation plan included compensation measures for the landowners and a range of rehabilitation and resettlement entitlements in accordance with the standard practices for all affected districts. “Therefore it won’t be prudent to say that Udhampur district is out of commensurate development benefits,” he said.
The Minister informed the House that the project components fall across three districts of Jammu and Kashmir, Ramban, Udhampur and Reasi, with Ramban district bearing the maximum submergence and emerging as the most affected district in the Union Territory.
The Minister further informed that out of the total land requirement of 1,401.35 hectares for the project, Ramban accounts for the largest share at 1,097.55 hectares, followed by Udhampur with 197 hectares and Reasi with 106.8 hectares.
With regard to submergence, it was informed that out of 1,158.75 hectares of total land, Ramban accounts for 1,030.55 ha (88.94%), Udhampur for 63 ha (5.44%) and Reasi for 65.2 ha, firmly establishing Ramban as the most affected district in the Union Territory.
The Minister provided a detailed breakdown of project components across the three districts. He informed that the diversion tunnel, right abutment of the Dam and right bank tunnels fall under Reasi district, the adit of right bank tunnels, most of the submergence area and other construction facilities fall under Ramban district while the Powerhouse, main tunnel and left abutment of the Dam are located in Udhampur district.
On the question of road connectivity, the Minister noted that the road connecting Jammu city to Ramban is an all-weather road being maintained by NHAI while the road connecting Ramban to Zero Morh is constructed and maintained by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO).
Regarding the shortest and most logical Pancheri-Lander-Galiote route, the Minister informed that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) has been prepared based on technically feasible and commercially viable site conditions and has been duly approved by the Central Electricity Authority, Union Ministry of Power, outlining all project features including access roads to various project components.
The Minister further noted that the proposed road from MH Morh to Chakka is a single-lane route with high maintenance costs and would not be suitable for transportation of heavy machinery and equipment required for construction of the project. He added that the selection of access roads depends on detailed engineering and economic considerations and any change at a later stage could result in construction delays and cost overruns.
