SRINAGAR: More than 1,000 families have been affected by the construction of major hydroelectric projects in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district, the Centre informed Parliament.
Replying to an unstarred question by Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo, Minister of State for Power, Shripad Naik said that a total of 1,004 families have been impacted by the development of projects, including the Dulhasti power station, Pakal Dul, Kiru and Kwar.
The minister stated that during the construction of the 390 MW Dulhasti hydroelectric project, 60 families were affected and all of them were provided employment as part of rehabilitation measures.
However, in the case of the 1,000 MW Pakal Dul, 624 MW Kiru and 540 MW Kwar projects, there is no provision for employment to project-affected families (PAFs) under the Resettlement and Rehabilitation (R and R) plans approved by the Jammu and Kashmir government.
Despite this, Naik said that employment opportunities have been generated through contractors, with around 6,211 local residents of Kishtwar district— including 552 PAFs—engaged during the course of project development.
He added that bidding opportunities are also being extended to affected families and local residents to encourage entrepreneurship and support local economic activity.
The government further informed that the Dulhasti project was developed by NHPC Limited, while the Pakal Dul, Kiru and Kwar projects are being executed by Chenab Valley Power Projects Limited.
Responding to a separate query regarding the functioning of the joint venture company, the government said that the post of Joint Managing Director in Chenab Valley Power Projects Limited is to be held by a nominee of the Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation. It added that nominations to the post were made between December 2013 and January 2015, and again from March 2023 to January 2024.
The disclosure comes amid ongoing scrutiny of rehabilitation measures and local participation in large hydropower projects in the Chenab Valley region.
