Over the last two decades, Himachal has been experiencing tremors of a transformation that is very difficult to predict, nevertheless scary. Opening up of the state for a host of commercial activities, including mega projects like hydro projects and cement plants, has already brought about a sea-change in the socio-economic as well as environmental ecology of the state. To evaluate the human cost of development the establishment has been selling to the local population is a difficult task, and can only be left for time to decide, but the future certainly can be felt in a way – if only we respond to our own conscience’s calling.
Read here what a Latin American felt traveling through tiny villages in rural Himachal Pradesh – “I can’t help but feel that I’ve been immersed in Macondo, the enchanted town depicted in Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s canonical fiction One Hundred Years of Solitude.
Michelle Arevalo has actually shown us the silver lining, but only if we could act. We must save Himachal from immersing into the dooming chapter. Land acquisition by companies and lack of any sustainability are the gravest issues in all the hill states, I think, civil population should be made to realize this more than any other administrative authority.
There is a need for establishment of policy for the way these companies provide compensation to the affected ppl. The claims regarding rural employment and development by these projects are delusive. The employment generated is temporary in nature, that too non skilled category during project execution. after commissioning of the project there is requirement of only few ppl managing the power plant. The state government get 12% of power from the project free of cost as royalty. Instead of paying them high prices for there land, why cant the affected families be made share holders in these projects. Villagers hardly know how to utilize large some of money they get as one time payment for there lands. there regular employment in the project is not feasible. so such a policy will ensure that they continue to get regular income.
They all seem to be in the money and spending money like it's going out of style but some one tell them – A fool and his money are soon parted. *Pretty relevant suggestion from
Manish.
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