SRINAGAR: A total of 35 workers lost their lives while three others sustained serious injuries at NHPC and Chenab Valley Power Projects Private Limited (CVPPL) hydroelectric project sites in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district over the past five years, the Union Ministry of Power informed the Rajya Sabha on Monday.
Responding to an unstarred question by Rajya Sabha MP Sajad Ahmad Kichloo, Minister of State for Power Shripad Naik said the fatalities were reported across four major hydroelectric projects in the district.
According to the ministry, the Pakal Dul project recorded the highest number of deaths at 16, followed by Kiru with eight, Ratle with six and Kwar with five. Three serious injuries were reported only at the Kwar project. Compensation paid to victims’ families amounted to Rs 2.76 crore for Pakal Dul, Rs 1.20 crore for Kiru, Rs 99.16 lakh for Ratle and Rs 29.43 lakh for Kwar, while compensation of Rs 35.30 lakh was paid to the three seriously injured workers at Kwar. The ministry said compensation in two Pakal Dul cases and three Kwar cases has been processed and will be disbursed after completion of the required formalities.
On safety measures, the ministry said statutory safety audits and inspections of hydroelectric projects are carried out by independent agencies. It said the British Standards Institution (BSI) conducted an audit of the Kiru Hydroelectric Project in 2024.
The audit identified minor non-compliances, including delays in reporting incidents to the head office, the need for periodic training of drivers and machine operators, inadequate stock of electrical resistance rubber mats and the need for strict compliance with the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) Act. The ministry said the corrective action plan recommended in the audit has since been implemented.
The government also informed Parliament that a Joint Safety Committee comprising representatives of project developers and contractors regularly reviews safety-related issues and monitors compliance with prescribed safety standards at the project sites.
