SRINAGAR: Hundreds of people on Thursday participated in a rally in Ramban town under the banner of the Sawalkakote Joint Action Committee (SJAC), demanding transparency and protection of local interests in the proposed 1,856 MW Sawalkakote Hydroelectric Project.
The rally reflected concerns among residents over land acquisition, rehabilitation and employment opportunities linked to the project.
Carrying placards reading “Our Land, Our Rights, Our Future”, “Ramban Ki Majboori Hai, Sawalkote Zaroori Hai”, “We Want Compensation as Per the Fair Compensation Act”, “First Preference to Ramban Youth in Employment” and “No Development Without Local Consent”, the protesters marched from Dak Bungalow through the main business areas of the town.
Addressing a gathering at the end of the march, SJAC president Advocate Fairoz Khan said the people of Ramban were not opposed to development but wanted protection of their rights and livelihoods.
“We are not anti-development, but development cannot come at the cost of our dignity and livelihoods. Ramban must remain the central stakeholder,” Khan said.
He also referred to reports of possible connectivity changes that could bypass Ramban district.
The Sawalkakote Hydroelectric Project on the Chenab river has remained under discussion for several years. Recent movement on the project has led to renewed concerns among project-affected families regarding compensation, rehabilitation and employment.
The SJAC demanded that compensation for land acquisition be provided in accordance with the Fair Compensation Act and said local youth should get preference in jobs linked to the project.
Committee members also raised the issue of extensions in the tendering process. Speakers said the tender process has been extended multiple times since February, with the latest deadline moved from June 4 to June 16.
The committee said the protest remained peaceful but warned of further agitation if the administration failed to hold talks with affected families and local stakeholders.
Among those who addressed the gathering were Ali Shan, Sanjay Kumar, Rahi Manzoor, Mudasir Azmat, Sheetal Singh Bali, Abdul Rahim Bali, Tauseef Mir, Iftiyaz Shoil, Vakil Singh, Gulraz Ahmed, Masood Khan, Ravinder Singh, Mohd Yousuf and Zakir Ahmed, besides other committee members and civil society representatives.
