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Not many priests or idols at Kullu Dussehra any more Kullu: The Government of Himachal Pradesh is being blamed for the drop in the number of pundits or priests visiting the famous Kullu Dussehra that began this week. When Dussehra celebrations come to an end in other parts of the country, it begins in Kullu. Colourful processions of devotees, beautiful idols of gods and goddesses mark the event. The first day is marked by a homage to Lord Raghunath and the remaining nine days are for rituals, Natti dances and other performances. However, participants were sore over two issues -- the drop in the number of idols and the lack of priests to perform all rituals associated with the festival. There was a time when at least 350 to 400 idols marked the event, but now that number has been reduced to between 100 to120. It's also worrying that the number of priests visiting Kullu during the Dussehra festival is on the decline. "Gods and goddesses come from far off places and don't get proper facilities. They do not get an adequate amount of money to cover their travel expenses. In the coming time, the number of gods and goddesses visiting the Kullu Dussehra will decline", said KK Verma, a priest. But the government denies this charge. "I don't think the number is any less, overall people might have another work. But as far as we are concerned, we have always increased the amount of money and facilities provided to them. May be the number of gods and goddesses has become a bit less", said RD Nazeem, the Deputy Commissioner of Kullu. Nov 2004 Rehabilitation blues hit Tehri hydro project (Go to Top) Tehri: As the Tehri Hydro Power project enters its final phase, there is an atmosphere of discontent over lack of proper rehabilitation for the people displaced from the area. So much so that they have now threatened to stall the final phase of the project if their demands are not met. The work on the project has been on for the last 28 years and will enter its final phase with the first generation unit being operational next year. But the dream project which will supply electricity and irrigation to vast swathes of land in Uttar Pradesh and Uttaranchal is being affected by the rehabilitation crisis. The first phase of the power plant will produce 1000 megawatts of power by next month. But that generation of energy and power can start only after the second tunnel for the project is closed down. That objective is far from being achieved as uprooted locals are preventing the tunnel's closure citing lack of rehabilitation and facilities. The closure has already been postponed many times and to make matters worse, the coordination committee for rehabilitation has been scrapped by the Uttaranchal government headed by Chief Minister N.D.Tiwari. "The main reason for this is lack of rehabilitation. The local MLA had raised the issue in the assembly, but the chief minister replied that the rehabilitation is complete. But there are many people who are yet to benefit," alleged Dinesh Kumar, the chairman of the City Board, New Tehri. "The public will not accept the closure of the tunnels without proper rehabilitation work. We will fight for our rights," asserted Anita Kandiyal. Tiwari, however, maintains that the Tehri Hydro Development Corporation has been asked to provide rehabilitation to the displaced. "I have appealed to the new Chairman of the THDC as they supply money for rehabilitation, that they should solve all such problems so that the work goes on smoothly and costs do not escalate," said Tiwari. Nov, 2004 Tehri Dam project work stalled, villagers refuse evacuation (Go to Top) Dehradun: Work at the Tehri hydroelectric project was stalled last week as villagers, unhappy with their rehabilitation package, refuse evacuation. While most of old Tehri has already been submerged, a few pockets still remain inhabited and their closure is absolutely essential for Tehri's first power grid to be operational by 2005. Dam officials have been rallying for over two months to finally block tunnel two, which will also submerge the remaining areas and allow generation of electricity for the 1000 MW grid. They have been forced to stop work as locals have refused to budge after negotiations failed. Authorities said the families will be given temporary accommodation before being shifted to permanent houses besides the stipulated monetary compensation but villagers say their new quarters are poorly built, lack facilities and the compensation money is far too little. "The people will not accept the closure of tunnel without proper rehabilitation. We will fight for our rights," said Anita Kandyal, a resident. State Chief Minister Narain Dutt Tiwari said talks were on with the dam's autonomous regulatory body for better rehabilitation. "I have appealed to the new chairman of THDC (Tehri Hydro Development Corporation) as they supply money for rehabilitation, that they should solve this problem so that the work goes on smoothly and cost does not escalate," Tiwari said in Dehradun. Besides Tehri, 34 villages will also get submerged under water and another 118 will be partially affected. Authorities claim over 10 billion rupees have been spent and more than 80 percent of the affected population has been rehabilitated. The Tehri project was started in 1976 as a joint venture between the federal and the state governments but has been mired by controversy ever since with fears of safety and compensation woes plaguing it. Scientists fear the 260-metre high Tehri dam is coming up in an earthquake-prone area and can endanger the lives of millions if damaged. Estimated to be built at five billion rupees initially, the cost for the world's fourth biggest dam, has since escalated by more than 10 times. Nov, 2004 |
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