Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Tour of Baghlihar Villages

Baglihar villages in very unhealthy conditions
The Early Times, Jammu
20th August,2009

Socialistic Democratic Party President Dr Darakhshan Andrabi today visited about one dozen villages adjoining the mega Baglihar Power project and took stock of the pathetic condition of these villages. After listening to the aggreviated people and their woes, Dr Darakhshan spoke to the public ralleys at four places. She said: "The condition of the villages adjoining Baglihar Power Project is very distressing. These villages have been badly hit by the construction of this mega project. Their land has got affected, their roads have got destroyed and their pure rural life has been badly hit and disturbed and in return to this sacrifice of compulsion these poor villagers have got nothing in return. At the time of execution of Baglihar Power project, as per a written agreement, it was made mandatory on the Construction Company to take special measures for the rehabilitation and development of the villages affected by the project. But on the ground nothing in this context has been done for so many years now. The condition of these villages and their inhabitants is very pathetic. Despite repeated demonstrations and agitations in Mufti and Azad regimes no steps were taken to redress these affected villagers. Omar’s government is almost ten months old now and still then nothing good have come out for these poor villagers in trouble. The government agreement has been put to shambles and there is nobody to listen to these poor people. I had been invited by these affected people to personally see their condition on spot and I feel very bad in seeing their pathetic condition. I now request Omar Abdullah and his brigade to kindly wake up from the deep slumber and at least implement the agreement which guarantees the welfare and development of these affected villages. I warn state government to incur the habit of listening to the poor people's voice without violence or creation of law and order problem. Government should try to upheld the democratic spirit and learn to respect the people's voice. Dr Darakhshan was accompanied by SDP leaders Ajay Sharma, Noor Mohammad Kaloo and Peer Abdul Majeed Shah.

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