Massive protests were held in Uri town of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Friday against NHPC’s alleged negligence in opening the gates of Uri I Power project without raising an alarm due to which two teenage boys died yesterday.The two boys, Waheed Ahmad, 14, and Jalal Ahmad, 15, were playing near riverbank on Thur when a sudden rush of water washed them away in Jhelum.Senior Congress leader and Minister for Health and Medical Education Taj Moh-ud-Din told KNS that NHPC authorities didn’t raise an alarm (otherwise a norm) before opening the gates of the power project to pert discharge towards Boniyar.
“NHPC has installed auto ejector which is banned worldwide. I am not able to understand how this design has been approved. When I was Minister for Irrigation and Flood Control I had asked them to install a proper hooter so that people can be warned in advance when excess water has to be discharged,” Taj said.However, the minister added ‘indifferent attitude’ of NHPC authorities has taken lives of 15 people in the area so far. “They are not bothered about lives of Kashmiris. I was there in Uri yesterday when the water was released and I am witness they didn’t warn the people in advance. It is sheer negligence of NHPC authorities which claimed lives of two young boys,” Taj told KNS.The minister said the NHPC act is an offence under Water Resources Act. “Those who are responsible for it should be booked for this heinous act,” he added.