Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has issued a stern warning against political meddling in major power projects underway in the Kishtwar region. He emphasized that law enforcement must act against anyone obstructing this crucial national work.
Firm Threatens Exit Over Alleged MLA Interference
The Chief Minister's statement comes in response to serious allegations made by Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Ltd. (MEIL). The company, which is constructing the 850-megawatt Ratle hydropower project on the Chenab River, recently threatened to withdraw from the venture. It accused local BJP legislator Shagun Parihar of persistent interference.
MEIL's joint chief operating officer, Harpal Singh, stated that the MLA was pressuring the firm to provide jobs, leading to disruptions. Singh clarified that the project already employs 1,468 workers, with 977 hailing from Kishtwar itself, and has no vacancies to fill under political duress.
CM's Strong Stance on Project Integrity
Speaking as the state's power minister, Omar Abdullah left no room for ambiguity. "There should be absolutely no interference in the work," he told reporters in Srinagar. He pointedly added that if similar allegations were levelled against any of his ministers, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) would have already conducted raids.
Without naming individuals, the CM indicated that the problem was not limited to one person. He claimed that two local BJP lawmakers were interfering in all power projects within the Kishtwar district, stressing that these projects benefit the entire nation, not just Jammu and Kashmir.
Formal Complaints and Social Media Allegations
The situation has escalated with MEIL filing official complaints. The company lodged a complaint last week regarding an alleged attack on a senior official on December 4. On Monday, another complaint was filed with the Kishtwar deputy commissioner against social media influencer Asif Iqbal Naik.
This complaint accuses Naik of circulating "false, defamatory and threatening content" online targeting MEIL official Syed Burhan Andrabi. In a video, Naik had alleged links between terrorists in Kishtwar and Kashmiri employees on the Ratle project, a claim the company seeks to penalize.
A Project Marred by Delays
The Rs 3,700-crore Ratle project has faced a slow and troubled journey since its foundation stone was laid by then-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in 2013. Initially awarded to GVK Group on a 35-year build-own-operate-transfer basis, the company withdrew without explanation within two years.
The project is now a joint venture between the central government's NHPC Ltd. and the J&K State Power Development Corporation Ltd (JKSPDC). It involves constructing a 133-meter dam and an underground powerhouse equipped with five turbines.
Alongside the Ratle project, NHPC is executing three other major hydropower ventures in Kishtwar through joint ventures with JKSPDC, boasting a combined installed capacity of 3,014 megawatts. The current controversy threatens to further delay these critical infrastructure developments aimed at boosting the region's and country's power supply.
