KISHTWAR: The Environmental Clearance Committee(ECC) for Karthai-I project led by District Development commissioner Kishtwar Angrez Singh Rana today visited the project site here in Gulabgarh Paddar area and listened to the issues of local people. The committee members including Chief Engineer JKPDC, SDM Padder Sanjeev Rana, Representatives of pollution control board, Tehsildar Atholi, BDO Atholi and sectoral officers interacted with a large number of public from Atholi, Karthai, Sohal the villages likely to be affected by the project.
The public was informed about the importance of the project and its various key components were read out to them. It was informed that 165 meter high concrete gravity dam will be constructed and for which around 32 hectare land is required which would include state, private and forest land. The Chief Engineer JKPDC assured that during the execution of the project the impact on the air, noise and water pollution will be taken care of.
Consultants of the project gave a detailed resume of various components of the projected environment management plans. The locals demanded reasonable compensation for the private land to be acquired for the project, preference to local youth in employment and early start of execution of the project. They also demanded that the area be provided free electricity after the completion of the project.
District Development Commissioner, while replying to the queries of the public assured that the area development plan would exclusively be used for the development of the Padder. He also said that JKPDC shall impart training to the youth of Padder so that at the time of the execution the local youth may get the jobs.