Excelsior Correspondent
KISHTWAR, Nov 19: Member Legislative Council Firdous Tak today castigated National Hydel-Electric Power Company and Chenab Valley Power Project for acting like East India Company ignoring the genuine and just cause of Kishtwar district where most of the hydel projects are proposed to come up in next few years.
The MLC urged the CVPP to withdraw its recent recruitment notice issued at the national level and instead give preference to the local youth. “We won’t allow the two hydel companies to use our resources and at the same time treat us like slaves”, Tak said adding, “The residents of Chenab valley in general and Kishtwaries in particular must get first preference on all the projects that are coming up at the cost of environmental and geographical hazards to the area”.
Tak was speaking during a grievance redressal meeting where large number of unemployed engineering and other professionals of the district also called on him here today in the backdrop of recent recruitment drive launched by CVPP, a joint consortium of NHPC and State run JKPDC. “The corporation has engaged hundreds of people at its corporate and regional offices in last few years but there is negligible number from the local area. It has recently advertised nearly 100 posts at the national level causing serious resentment among the local unemployed youth,” he added.
Tak further said that prestigious Keeru, Kwar, Karthi and Pakal Dul projects are under pipeline and expected to be taken up by next financial year. “How can locals of the area be mute spectator to the indifferent attitude of the company when it is clear that four projects will cause devastating effect on environment, geography besides dislocating hundreds of families”, he said adding, “You (CVPP) will have to own the people of the area before banking and utilising their resources for economic gains”.
He said that locals of the area are ready to fight their battle to any extent in case the CVPP authorities do not reconsider the recruitment process giving special and first preference to the local youth. He also urged the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti to intervene in the matter personally.
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