Jammu: National Conference (NC) member was marshaled out from the Upper House when lawmaker demanded constitution of a House Committee regarding Power Projects in District Kishtwar.
The MLC, Sajjad Kichloo, was marshalled out on the direction of Legislative Chairman Haji Anayat Ali.
Soon after noticing the incident of marshaled out of Kichloo alongwith other NC Members, the entire Congress lawmakers extended their full support and walked out from the Upper House over the issues. Later, the Opposition Lawmakers have decided not to attend the House proceedings for the day to express their resentment over act of LC Chairman for marshaling out the NC lawmaker from the House.
As soon as the question regarding to Power Projects in District Kishtwar was taken up in the House, Kichloo immediately stood up and apprised the council that the reply given by the concerned Minister was totally wrong and demanded it to constitute a House Committee over the issue keeping in view life threat of the people of the concerned areas including its impact on environment when around 8 Hydel power projects including Bursur Power Project (800 MV) were proposed for implementation within the radius of 10 kms over River Marusudar, the main right bank of river Chenab near Pakal village in Kishtwar district.
Kichloo while speaking to INS on the sidelines of Legislative Council said, “From day one, the issues and query including Supplementary questions of Opposition Lawmakers were overlooked in the Upper House after LC Chairman attended the Dinner party organized by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti who is following directions to ignore the queries of Opposition members during the Budget session.”
“Our issues pertaining to the concerns of the people of the state are being ignored by giving baseless reply being raised by the opposition members in the Upper House which is injustice for us and for the people,” he added.
Referring to the Rattle Project (850 MV) which was started 3 years ago, Kichloo said: “The work on the said the project has been clogged which is still non functional, but the government failed to provide the reasons for stopping the work over it. Government has a motive to divert all the intentions of the public interest by giving baseless replies in the Upper House just to mislead the Opposition members in particular and people in general which will not be tolerated. We are ready to face such marshaled out in future if continuous fake replies were given in the House proceeding by the government or by the concerned Ministers.”
Earlier, Minister of State for Power Asiea Naqash, replying to Kichloo’s question, informed that there are 4 power projects with 1680 MW cumulative capacity operational on river Chenab, while as 7 more projects of 5388 MW have been proposed to be constructed on the river.
MoS further informed that J&K State Power Development Corporation is executing 48 MW Hydro Power Project at Lower Kalnai in Kishtwar district, adding that so far an amount of Rs 108.10 crore stands expended against total cost of Rs 576.87 crore. She further informed that 800 MW capacity HEP has been proposed over river Marusudar near Pakal village of Kishtwar district.
