The State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) today sought the opinion of all those who will be dislodged from their native places due to the construction of the 1856 MW Sawlakot Hydro project. The exercise has been done by the SPCB before getting final nod from the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MOEF) for the proposed Hydro Project in Ramban district.The SPCB today held its 3rd round of Public hearing at village Tangar in the district to hear the suggestions and opinions of local villagers.The views of these villagers who are likely to be affected by this project was videographed and will be sent to the MOEF for taking a final decision for the construction of this project.
Additional Deputy Commissioner, (ADC) Ramban Babu Ram was the chief guest on the occasion while on behalf of the SPCB, Jammu, Kuldeep Bhan, Divisional Officer, SPCB, Ramban gave a welcome address by making the public aware about the said project.Speaking on the occasion, ADC exhorted the JKPDC and other concerning agencies to take care of the concerns and welfare of the locals expected to be affected ,on priority and accordingly forward the recommendations to the government so that more and more local unemployed youth are skilled and employed in the upcoming project.Detailed presentation was made by the Dwaipayan Dutta of M/S R.S. Enviro Link Technologies Pvt.Ltd., Gurgaon about the said Project, its environmental management Plan and other technicalities involved in the project.The residents also rued the delay in the beginning of the construction of this Project saying that it will be a prime source of employment in the region which would largely benefit the locals and enhance their economy.
The residents also raised the diverse issues concerning the ecological balance, forest degradation, pollution control, rehabilitation and compensation to the affected or dislodged families and the job opportunities to the local skilled and unskilled unemployed persons. Senior Scientist JKPCB, Jammu Dr. Yashpal, represented the Regional Director in the function and gave detailed view of the project with regard to its environmental clearance and importance of this public hearing. The Nodal Officer, J&K Power Development Corporation (JKPDC), Vijay Nagri also shared various technicalities of the proposed project with the public and addressed the queries raised by the public.The SDM, Gool, Zameer Ahmed Rishu, Executive Engineer, Sawlakot, Hydel Project, JKPDC, Ashok Nanda, Executive Engineer, Civil Constructions Division Rakesh Sharma, also participated in the Public Hearing today. The Vote of Thanks was presented by Bader Hussain, Divisional SPCB, Jammu. Earlier, similar public hearings were held at Pancheri, Udhampur and Mahore, Reasi on January 18 and January 21, 2015 respectively.