NGT directs hydropower company to pay Rs 9 crore to flood-affected people

DEHRADUN: The National Green tribunal has directed GVK-Alaknanda Hydro Power to pay Rs 9 crore as compensation to the flood-affected residents of Pauri district's Srinagar for loss of property and restoration of the damages in the area.
The company was found responsible for not disposing off the muck generated from the construction of the 330MW Srinagar Hydro electric project in Srinagar town as per the guidelines.
Due to muck deposition during the torrential rain on June 16 and 17, when the gates of the dam remained closed, it led to creation of a reservoir. Opening of gates resulted in massive flow of water suddenly sweeping away the muck dumped on the river body and carrying it to the villages and the town.
Prem Ballabh, vice-president of the Srinagar Bandh Apda Sangharsh Smiti, which was formed of 96 members who faced property loss, said, “Had the muck not been there, the river water would have receded fast. But with loads of muck into the river water, the recession pace got much slower, destroying the houses and other structures during the flash flood. The 96 members of the smiti who bore the brunt of loss of property of various level will get part of the compensation amount as per the quantum of the loss.”
According to Vimal Bhai, convener of Matu Jansangthan, the company has also not constructed retention wall resulting in more damage. The area affected was filled with muck up to eight-feet high. The tribunal directed the company to pay Rs 92,6,42,795 with 30 days as compensation into the Emergency Relief Fund Authority, to be paid to the victims affected by the incident.
The tribunal also directed Alakhnanda Hydro Power Co Ltd to pay an amount of 1 lakh each to the applicant as well as to Bharat Jhunjhunwala who is another respondent as and by way of cost. It also directed that 1 per cent of the amount of compensation awarded shall be deducted from the said deposited amount and remitted to the registrar, National Green Tribunal, as per the National Green Tribunal Rules, 2011.
The tribunal further directed the Uttarakhand government to issue necessary directions to the district magistrate of Pauri to depute a senior sub-divisional magistrate to look after the claims made.