Over 350 Doda families to be evacuated for Baglihar

Concerned over an expected rise in the water levels of Baglihar project after its scheduled commissioning this July, the state government has decided to shift over 350 families in Pul-Doda town in Doda to some alternate place. Related Stories 23 labourers feared dead in landslide Before cross-LoC trade kicks off, police want mobile scanners for trucks Kupwara gets Rs 52.77 crore Ex-PDP leader joins National Conference Soz assures parity in wages of workers in Jammu, Kashmir Jammu, May 2: Concerned over an expected rise in the water levels of Baglihar project after its scheduled commissioning this July, the state government has decided to shift over 350 families in Pul-Doda town in Doda to some alternate place. "The water level in reservoir will go up by several metres after Baghlihar project is expected to be commissioned by July this year," official sources said. "As Pul-Doda town is likely to get submerged due to Baghlihar waters, the state government has geared up to evacuate 350 families from there and complete construction of Khellani and Neeru bridges by June end", they said. Entire Pul-doda town along with a portion of National Highway 1-B will be submerged once the 450-MW Baglihar Hydro-Electric Project will be commissioned, BHEP officials have told the Deputy Commissioner, Doda, Khurshid Ahmed Bhat. Acting on the direction, Bhat convened an emergency meeting in Doda on Friday and instructed shifting of 350 families of the town, rehabilitation and settlement of compensation claims besides construction of two bridges. Pul-Doda town was declared "unsafe" with regard to the commissioning of Baglihar Hydro Electric Project several years back as well. However, the state government failed to formulate any concrete plan for the rehabilitation of families of the area till this year.