After decades of struggle, justice arrives for Pong Dam oustees

After decades of relentless struggle, the recent decision of state government has provided justice to 89 families displaced over five decades ago by the construction of the Pong Dam.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s intervention has led to the provision of ‘Land Lease Certificates’ coupled with financial assistance of Rs 3 lakh for house construction to each one of the displaced families. The move has been hailed as the beginning of long-overdue justice for those who have lived on the margins of legality and society for generations.

“This is a welcome initiative and has ignited a new ray of hope for an almost equal number more families waiting for a similar relief,” said Ranjit Singh, Up-Pradhan (former Pradhan) of village Chabbar in Jhakhlehar panchayat of Dehra sub-division.

Left at the mercy of winds, these families built modest homes on adjacent government land, as suggested by the authorities of the time. In 1980, a crushing blow came when this area was declared forest land, turning these hard-earned shelters into unauthorised structures in the eyes of the law.

For years, these oustees lived in legal limbo, devoid of basic amenities such as electricity, water, roads and even the Bonafide certificates. Fear of eviction loomed large, while pleas for recognition were repeatedly lost in bureaucratic red tape.

The recent decision, restores not just the legal standing of these families, but also their dignity and humanity. For the first time, a government has acknowledged the depth of their suffering and the legitimacy of their demands. “This is not just about land; it is about justice,” said Malkiat Singh son of Sher Singh, a resident of village Chabbar in Dehra sub-division.