Him Lok Jagriti Manch holds ‘Save Kinaur’ conference

HimVani

Rekong Peo: A one-day joint conference on project affected people of district Kinnaur was held at village Aakpa in Pooh sub-division of Kinnaur on April 19. The conference was organized by Him Lok Jagriti Manch, Kinnaur Joint Action Committee and local groups who are opposed to hydro power projects.

More than 2,000 local people participated in the conference and a 20-point resolution was passed highlighting the negative effects of hydro projects to environment, loss of local people’s rights and livelihoods, danger to national security and gross violation of tribal, environment, forest and revenue laws. The conference was addressed by Ringchen Negi, president, Aakpa Sangharsh Samiti while Narender Negi present the 20-point draft resolution raising issues of environment degradation due to these project. Dr DK Negi endorsed the resolution adding that EIA of projects are hiding the factual position of the area and is based on miscellaneous and false facts to give undue benefit to the developers.

Venay Negi, president of district joint action committee, raised the issue of violation of forest laws, environment laws, HP Lease rules, mining rules, state revenue laws and forest rights act by JKHCL in Karchham Wangtu project and Tidong hydro project Company.

Dr Sushil Sagar, former VC of the Nauni horticulture university discussed the detailed environmental losses caused by these projects. RS Negi, convener of Him Lok Jagriti Manch and co-chairperson of Himalaya Niti Abhiyan, said that 150 km stretch of Satluj in Kinnaur is being completely dammed and will flow in tunnels.