No political interference should be allowed in hydroelectric projects: CM Omar

Amid allegations that a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA in Jammu’s Kishtwar district is pressuring and “threatening” the developer of the Ratle Hydroelectric Power Project, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday asserted that there should be no political interference in power projects and asked law-enforcing agencies to take action against anyone obstructing works of national importance.

The developer of the Ratle Hydroelectric Power Project has alleged that local BJP leaders, including BJP MLA Shagun Parihar, are pressuring the company to hire more local workers or surrender the project—charges denied by the MLA and her party. Despite the controversy, construction work at the project continues without interruption.

Talking to reporters in Srinagar, the Chief Minister said any interference in such projects must be viewed seriously. “There should be no interference, and this should be looked at very seriously. These projects are not only for Jammu and Kashmir, they are for the whole country. These are projects of national importance,” Abdullah said.

He further remarked that had similar allegations been levelled against any of his ministers, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) would have already initiated action.

“You and I both know that if this accusation had been made against any of my ministers, the ACB would have conducted a raid by now,” he said, adding that law-enforcing agencies should do their job without fear or favour.

Referring to the allegations, Abdullah said that although the name of only one MLA has surfaced so far, two opposition legislators were interfering in multiple projects in the district.

“As far as I know, only one honourable MLA has been talked about. But in every project in Kishtwar, the two honourable MLAs of the opposition are interfering somewhere,” he said.

The Chief Minister also flagged delays in the transfer of departments to the elected government, stating that several key institutions remained outside its control. “I am the power minister, but the Power Development Corporation has still not been handed over to the elected government,” he said.

The controversy erupted after Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Limited (MEIL), the developer executing the upcoming 850-MW Ratle project, alleged that it was being threatened to either hire more workers or surrender the project. A senior company official warned that continued disruptions could force the firm to withdraw, potentially leading to substantial financial losses.

Joint Chief Operating Officer of MEIL, Harpal Singh, said the company had invested heavily in machinery, materials and manpower and could face major losses, including penalties linked to bank guarantees furnished to NHPC, if it pulled out of the project.

On Monday, MEIL also lodged a complaint with the Deputy Commissioner of Kishtwar, seeking registration of a case and strict legal action against Asif Iqbal Naik, described by the company as a social media influencer, for allegedly posting “false, defamatory and threatening content” against MEIL officials on social media.

Meanwhile, jailed MP Engineer Rashid raised the issue in Parliament, demanding the immediate return of Jammu and Kashmir’s hydropower projects from the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) to the Union Territory. He alleged that the corporation “continues to behave like the East India Company while our resources are being looted in broad daylight.”

The Ratle Hydroelectric Power Project, being constructed on the Chenab river in Kishtwar district, has an installed capacity of 850 MW. The Union Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the project in January 2021 at an estimated cost of Rs 5,281.94 crore.

‘Vote chori’ Cong issue, not INDIA bloc’s, says Omar

Srinagar: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said the INDIA bloc has nothing to do with the “vote chori” issue raised by the Congress.

The remarks by the National Conference (NC) vice-president came a day after the Congress held a “Vote Chor, Gaddi Chod” rally at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi, during which it launched a sharp attack on the Election Commission.

Omar said every political party was free to set its own political agenda. “Now the Congress has made the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), or vote theft, its main political issue. Who are we to tell it not to do so? We will choose our issues and they will choose theirs,” he said. The NC is a member of the INDIA bloc at the national level and is allied with the Congress in Jammu and Kashmir. However, the Congress has not yet joined the ruling government in the UT.