Kishenganga project: Affected villages want rehabilitation

It seems that there is no end to the challenges being faced by the villagers due to the on-going construction of 330 Megawatt Kishenganga Hydro Electric Power Project (KGHPP) here in twin townships of Gurez and Bandipora.
The villagers are being forced to reside in compact wooden houses as the authorities have issued strict orders not to undergo any construction in the notified villages. Even a family, desperately in need of a concrete structure has no option but to migrate.
The villagers in the Gurez have lodged umpteenth protests to press for the proper rehabilitation but to no avail. The prohibitory orders from NHPC for any construction in the area is forcing people to leave their homes.
“The displaced people be relocated somewhere near Srinagar as was promised to them at the time when NHPC took their land for construction of dam,” a group of residents said.
Four villages comprising Badwon, Khopri, Khandyal and Wanpora with a population of around 1000 people will submerge after the 37 Feet Dam over Kishen Ganga near Kanzalwan village is completed. The project has affected about 607 families, of which 135 are losing both land and houses.
The 330 Megawatt Project being constructed at the cost of Rs 3642.04 crore is being executed by Hindustan Construction Company and NHPC.