Bandipora, Aug 7: The Hindustan Construction Company has suspended work on the Kishan Ganga Hydro Electric Project in view of widespread protests in North Kashmir district of Bandipora.
 Though the construction work is partially going on in Gurez but in Bandipora the work has been suspended in view of the prevailing situation as most of the employees have moved out of the valley.
 “We are concerned for the safety of our employees in view of widespread violence in the valley so work has been put on hold for some time in Bandipora,” an officer told Greater Kashmir on condition of anonymity.
 “It is impossible to continue the construction work when there is no fuel, food and other material available in the area,” he said.
 “We are not able to get the diesel and petrol necessary for running the machinery,” an HCC insider said, adding, “Besides, employees feel insecure amid protests and curfew in the area.”
 Most of the non-Kashmiri employees have moved out of the valley, he said.
 An employee who left Bandipora in night hours told Greater Kashmir that they have told their superiors that they cannot work in the valley because of the fast deteriorating situation.
 HCC in consortium with British Halcrow Group Ltd. has taken up construction of 330 MW project worth Rs 3642 crores on Kishan Ganga River in Gurez, Bandipora. The sources suggest that by the end of March 2010 they have already spent Rs 269.96 crores.
 The contract is to be completed within 84 months, starting January 2009, envisaging construction of a 37-meter high dam and a 23.5 kilometer head-race tunnel to take water to three turbines of 110 MW each for generating 1350 million units of energy.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 7 Aug 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 7 Aug 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 8 Aug 2010 00:00:00 IST