Srinagar
Taking cognizance of the recent statement issued by former MLA Langate Er Rasheed regarding the death of 18-year-old girl in Dachi village of Uri, the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) has rebutted the charges levelled against them.
An official spokesperson of NHPC in a statement said that NHPC Limited has 23 Power Stations in the operational stage in different states including three Power Stations (Uri-I, URI-II and Kishenganga) in Kashmir valley.
“NHPC Limited expresses deep and profound grief on the sad demise of Rubeena Bano, an 18-year-old girl of Dachi village,” he said.
“Being a Government of India Enterprise, NHPC Limited strictly follows the guidelines and Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for reservoir operation to safeguard lives in the downstream area,” he added.
The spokesman said that Power Station has installed sirens/hooters on the dam and in the appropriate locations identified in the downstream stretch of river and they are blown to give prior warning to the people before releasing of excess water from the reservoir as per norms.
“Warning boards have also been installed at appropriate locations along the riverside both in upstream as well as downstream areas to warn the people not to go near the river,” he said.
Further, NHPC Limited also communicates to the Local Administration and Sarpanches of nearby areas well in advance before reservoir flushing operation, he added.
“It is clarified that NHPC Limited is not only generating green and clean power for the development of the nation-building but also committed in delivering Social Responsibilities and have conducted many CSR activities in the project affected villages in collaboration with the Local Administration and village Sarpanches for the upliftment of the people and development of the areas,” said the spokesman.
“Hence, the statement issued by Er Rasheed published in your reputed news website has immensely affected the good image of NHPC Limited among the public at large. NHPC Limited strongly deny the statement published on 27.07.2019,” he said.
Earlier, former MLA Langate and AIP president Er Rasheed blamed the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) officials for the death of 18 years old girl identified as Rubeena Bano, daughter of Anwar Shah, a resident of Dachi, who drowned and lost her life near the opening of Salamabad Dam in Uri.
Rasheed in a statement had also sought enquiry into the incident. “Rubeena is not the only one who lost her life due to the negligence of NHPC, but so for around a dozen human lives have been lost just for the reason that NHPC is not interested even in taking preventive measures to stop mishaps. It is unfortunate that the authorities have stopped using sirens to aware masses when gates of dams are open to allow bulk quantities of surplus water to flow into Jehlum and Rubeena’s death occurred only for the reason that no siren was used till she was trapped by the flashy surplus waters,” the spokesman had quoted Er Rasheed as saying.
