Senior Leader and Congress MLA from Inderwal, Ghulam Mohammad Saroori today demanded immediate start of work on 850 MW Rattle power Project Drabshallah without further delay.“Prime responsibility of any delay in starting the project lies on GVK, as they are the principal company who win the project bid”, Saroori said and asked GVK officials to immediately sought out the issue if any with L&T on its own; without making any local employees and work suffered.Saroori blamed BJP for forcing the GVK and L&T for closing down the work on the said project. “We don’t see achay din yet---- And the way they are indulging in closing the project---- increase in inflation, price rise of essential commodities, we should not expect ‘achay din’ in the days ahead" said Saroori. He said they (BJP) talked about ‘achay din’ before elections, but after winning the elections, they said they will have to give us a bitter-pill first to achieve ‘achay din’. "They don't want development---but just playing with the sentiments of the people" Saroori added.
He said that telephonically he contacted higher officials of GVK management and they informed that they won't leave the project but will start the construction work soon. He (Saroori) said if GVK Energy Limited will start work on the project, then GVK has to give preference to local un-employment youth of Drabshalla block at first instance including to those families whose land were acquired for the project. He said that after adjustment of unemployed youths from Drabshalla block, the company must give preference to unemployed youths of Kishtwar District and adjoining areas as the same was agreed in principle by the management while signing the MoU with government of Jammu and Kashmir.
Saroori said company should stick to its guidelines and their first priority should be given job to unemployed youth and added that Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (RR) Plan should be implemented in totality which includes construction of hospitals, schools, roads and several other welfare initiatives that has been promised by the company during various public and government meetings, so that common people may get benefited.He said some people are playing politics over pity benefits over the issue of power project and urged upon the Jammu & Kashmir State Power Development Corporation Ltd (JKSPDC) to immediately take stern steps for start of project work and absorb the local unemployed youths of Kishtwar District in the project so that unemployed youths may get benefit out of this prestigious project.
During Assembly session Speaker J&K directed the concerned government agencies for immediate addressing of the Rattle project issue that has create unrest among the local unemployed youths, he gave directions on the issue raised by local MLA GM Saroori in Legislative Assembly and shows concern over stopping of project work.It is pertinent to mention here that M/s GVK Rattle Hydroelectric Project Ltd and L&T have stopped work on Rattle HEP few month back citing different reasons. Both the companies have already started retrenchment process, while the agitating retrenched employees have confiscate over Rs. 100 crores machinery of both the companies till their various demands will not be addressed by both the companies.