Gaajna, Pratapnagar residents demand rehab package as promised by Govt

By PRABEER SIKDAR

DEHRADUN, 19 June 2009:

It is a tale of betrayal for the people of Pratapnagar (Tehri Garhwal) and Gaajna (Uttarakashi) regions. Post the Tehri dam construction, the government went on to make empty promises for the people of these 118 villages, promising better facilities.

But the ideas remained on paper.

“Kuch ni Kartu… Hamaru Nuksan Hoi Gayi (I am jobless, we have suffered losses),” said Shanti Devi, 35, a resident of Pratapnagar (Tehri Garhwal), through an interpreter. She is among the dozens from these regions, on indefinite Dharna near Assembly since 9 June demanding implementation of the economic package announced by the government.

According to government data, there are about 2500 families in Gaajna region, while the number stands at 13000 families for Pratapnagar region.

‘For us, Oorja Pradesh is a myth,” said Jabra Devi Rana, President of ‘Tehri Bandh Prabhavit Sangarsh Samiti’ and a resident of Gaajna region. “Tehri dam may be producing electricity, but 100 out of the 118 villages in these two regions, remain in darkness.”

Though not directly displaced by the Tehri dam, the villagers complain that it has added to their financial woes. “Earlier a Jeep ride (there are no government buses in these two regions) to Rishikesh (a distance of more than 150 kms) from Gaajna/ Pratapnagar would cost us Rs 80. Now, the roundabout journey costs us Rs 180 for a one way ride,” rued Jayantilal, a social worker from the region.

According to Jayantilal, plying government buses there is not feasible. “It is risky even to travel in private jeeps.”

Showing documents, Jayantilal, said that on 26 February, 2009, in a decision taken by Director, Tehri Dam (Rehabilitation) and DM Tehri, for the loss caused to the people of these regions on account of escalation of travel fare, each family was to be paid Rs 1.25 lakhs.

“An ITI centre and a 50-bed hospital were also promised to be set up in our area,” said Jayantilal. “But these promises were not kept.”

Interestingly, in May, 2006, DMs of Uttarakashi and Tehri had promised to introduce subsidise ticket fares in government owned buses. “Forget subsidy, there are no government buses in Gaajna and Pratapnagar,” explained Jayantilal, who is adamant on continuing the agitation, till the release of the package.

“We need the package, because our wheat crops were destroyed this year due to drought.”

He pointed out that the state government makes a profit from Tehri Hydro Development Corporation Ltd, so it must pay the already announced package from it. “Annually, 12 percent (120 crores) profit from the dam goes to the government,” he claimed.

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