Jammu: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Saturday said it has formulated a comprehensive Rehabilitation and Resettlement plan for the proposed Sawalkote Hydroelectric Project, taking into account the impact on local communities in Ramban, Udhampur and Reasi districts.
Replying to a question by MLA Pawan Kumar Gupta in the Legislative Assembly on behalf of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Minister for Jal Shakti Javed Ahmed Rana said the rehabilitation plan includes compensation for landowners and a range of resettlement benefits for affected families.
He said the plan has been prepared in accordance with standard norms, and therefore, it would not be correct to say that Udhampur district has been deprived of development benefits from the project.
The Minister informed the House that the project components are spread across Ramban, Udhampur and Reasi districts, with Ramban likely to be the worst-affected district.
According to the government, out of the total land requirement of 1,401.35 hectares, Ramban accounts for 1,097.55 hectares, followed by Udhampur with 197 hectares and Reasi with 106.8 hectares.
Similarly, of the total 1,158.75 hectares likely to be submerged, Ramban accounts for 1,030.55 hectares, or 88.94 per cent, while Udhampur accounts for 63 hectares and Reasi for 65.2 hectares.
Rana said the diversion tunnel, right abutment of the dam and right bank tunnels fall in Reasi district, while most of the submergence area, right bank tunnel adits and other construction facilities are located in Ramban district.
He said the powerhouse, main tunnel and left abutment of the dam are situated in Udhampur district.
On connectivity, the Minister said the road from Jammu to Ramban is an all-weather road maintained by the National Highways Authority of India, while the road from Ramban to Zero Morh is maintained by the Border Roads Organisation.
Referring to the proposed Pancheri–Lander–Galiote route, Rana said the Detailed Project Report has been prepared on the basis of technically feasible and commercially viable conditions and has already been approved by the Central Electricity Authority and the Union Ministry of Power.
He added that the proposed MH Morh–Chakka road is only a single-lane route with high maintenance costs and is unsuitable for the movement of heavy machinery required for the project.
Any change in access roads at a later stage could delay the project and lead to increased costs, the Minister said.
