A group of locals from twin villages of Kanzalwan and Bagtore protested– near the Kishanganga dam site in north Kashmir’s Gurez valley –for ‘relief and relocation’ as they are living with ‘increased unease’ after Uttarakhand tragedy.
The protesters said that villagers of Kanzalwan and Bagtore have been consistently demanding either a monetary relief or government sponsored relocation as they ‘fall in ‘zero lines’ of the dam of 330MW Kishanganga hydel power project from where the water is diverted to its powerhouse in Bandipora via tunnels.
Shouting slogans like “we want justice” and “accept our demands,” the protesters said that the reason for the protest was that they “have been living in increased fear after the recent Uttarakhand tragedy wherein several precious lives were lost after the dam burst”.
They said that after the construction of the dam, “the government has taken no initiative to secure our lives and properties despite living at the ‘zero point’ from the dam even after several representations over the years”.
The assembled men said that they must either be compensated or relocated to safer places. “We appeal Lt Governor’s administration to pay heed to our genuine demands,” they said.