Daijiworld Media Network - Jammu
Jammu, Dec 14: The construction company executing the 850 MW Ratle Hydropower Project in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district has warned that it may be forced to abandon the Rs 3,700-crore project due to sustained political interference and safety concerns.
Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Limited (MEIL), a Hyderabad-based firm, said local political pressure has compelled it to employ a large number of unskilled workers, seriously compromising the quality, safety and timeline of the project being built on the Chenab River.
“Imagine building a 133-metre-high dam and an 850 MW underground power project, but most of the people working have no competence. These workers have been imposed on us through pressure, blackmail, repeated work stoppages and even assaults on officials,” said MEIL Chief Operating Officer Harpal Singh.
Singh alleged that local politicians and MLAs in Kishtwar were creating repeated disruptions and appealed to both the central and Jammu and Kashmir governments to intervene and ensure smooth execution of the project. He warned that continued interference could force the company to walk away.
“If we are not allowed to work, we may have no option but to abandon the project. This would result in massive losses, considering the huge investments already made. We have also furnished a bank guarantee to NHPC,” he said.
Highlighting the manpower issue, Singh said that out of 1,434 workers currently employed at the Ratle project, around 960 are from Kishtwar district. “Most of them are unskilled and inexperienced, yet we were forced to hire them due to political pressure and blackmail,” he added.
He cautioned that such a workforce could compromise both safety and construction quality, besides delaying the project’s completion. Singh further alleged that four major hydropower projects in Kishtwar — Pakaldul, Ratle, Koru and Kawar — are behind schedule due to disruptions allegedly caused by BJP-backed unions.
On Friday, MEIL issued a formal notice accusing local political elements of instigating people to shut down the project. The company recalled that similar disturbances in 2013 had stalled work for nearly eight years.
The Ratle Hydropower Project was awarded to MEIL in April 2022. Construction activity had gathered momentum after the government suspended the Indus Waters Treaty following the terror attack in Pahalgam in April, allowing India to proceed with projects on the Indus river system without objections or clearances from Pakistan.
Tensions escalated last week after a senior MEIL official was allegedly assaulted and his vehicle stoned by a mob. In its notice, the company warned of a possible “suspension of Ratle Dam construction activities for an indefinite period” if the situation does not improve.