SHIMLA: Himachal Pradesh Government has decided to seek adequate compensation from the Punjab Government for proper rehabilitation of 395 families which would be ousted in Chamba district due to construction of Their (Ranjit Sagar) dam in Punjab’s territory.
During the question hour Revenue Minister Galab Singh announced in Vidhan Sabha that a total of 6133.12. Big has of land including some belonging to the government would be submerged in the dam this affecting at least 12 villages. The government had already taken up the matter with the Punjab Government and would seek the Punjab Government and would seek the implementation of Chamera am oustees rehabilitation formula he informed the House.
Senior M.A.A Sha Kurnari (Cong) who raised the Issue in the House complained that the government had not yet taken any serious step to sign the agreement with its Punjab counterpart for rehabilitation of the oustees. The Congress MLA suggested that Punjab Government should be asked to give compensation on the pattern of the Chamera dam oustees rehabilitation formula.
We will again contact the Punjab Government and fix the meeting to sort-out the matter the minister assured. He said that a total of 77 families would be rendered landless and 145 others completely home- less. He said that the government wanted each homeless family to be paid R.s 45000 and every landless one R.s 20000 each besides employment to one member of every affected family.
Replying to Milkhi Ram Goma on the privatization policy in the revenue Minister said that the government had privatized nine major hydrel projects and work on 300 mw Baspa II project had already started in the private sector. Two units of Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation – Wild Flower Hall and Naldera golf course had also been offered to the private sector he added.
Replying to supplementary of Sat Mahajan the minister said the government had decided to be selective in its’ privatization policy to protect the interests of the state and also job guarantees to Himachalis We ate not going for blind privatization he said defending government’s move to privatize the Naldra golf course in order to bring it at par with international standards. He said the state government had also written to the Union Government to send offers if it wanted to take over the development golf course.
Article extracted from this publication >> April 1, 1994
