Demands of the displaced/affected people of sjvn

This organization SJVNL came into existence in 1989. Earlier it was known by the name N.J.P.C as per the first project undertken by it. The Dame of this project is at Nathpa  and power house where the 1500 MW electricity is produced is at Jhakri, therefore it was named after these stations, Nathpa Jhakri Power corporation ltd. When the project got N.O.C at VIP old rest house in the year 1992 agreement was made between the Panchayat representatives (project affected family) and Board of Directors (BOD) of SJVN

The status of the people before 1989

The main occupation of inhabitants of jhakri was agriculture and horticulture. This village was known for the bowl of cereal producer, all kinds of crops were grown here like Urad, Rongi,Wheat,Vegetables etc. Fields of Jhakri were full of wavering crop in both seasons. Even today when the people of jhakri recall the days of swaying crop; feel emotional, they feel total loss. They could not deny government for issuing N.O.C. due to lack of awareness. It was first project of hilly area of Himachal Pradesh and the biggest project of Aisa

The compensation affected or displaced people received were not sufficient and not got true value for their non-consumable asset . No one was aware about the actual cost of the fertile land. No permanent source of income was left with them. It is noteworthy that some businessmen from all over India came here just before the commencement of the project. They just hired shops from the poor villager for the business purpose. They got full benefit,they got plot, disturb allowance for their source of living, what for those inhabitant who were making living by agriculture and lost everything they had. It is really ironical

The status of the S.J.V.N.L after commission:

S.J.V.N. the largest underground project in Asia with God Chambu Devta ‘s Grace, it has been developing two fold. Local people feel privilege and further pray for its long lasting. S.J.V.N. has commissioned R.H.E.P. in the current year in March,2014.Most of the work of this project is at jhakri like Four diversion tunnels. All Panchayats of Satluj basin were considered affected Panchayats inspite of 25 km far from the main tunnel but again it is ironical; Panchayat which falls within 500 meter, is not considered as a affected Panchayat . S.J.V.N. is earning lot of money, giving great hue and cry through commercial advertisement. S.J.V.N. is spending more than crore of rupees for its annual celebrations like foundation day, Lavi Fair ,Republic day etc. ironically nothing to those people whose land is used for this income

Revolutionary feeling of local people:

There is no objection in calling S.J.V.N. Corporation an “East India Company”. East India Company also came in India as a business company later did the fortification and at last became the ruler. Fortification is still on the local people affected and displaced people have now adopted the path of revolution. They are determined that no colonialism will prosper at Jhakri, they will uproot the practice of exploitation

Future Plans of affected people of project

The people of the project affected had made anticipated plan to get their rights. No obstacle can stand on the way few people have even given written confession for immolation. Few of them are ready to die, or are ready to sit in hunger strike. Affected people are in view that why to drag life without getting rights which were made in the agreement all people are adamant no authority can change their decision from getting their demands fulfilled


Demand Chart of the Displaced/affected people of SJVNL

1.    Regular employment in SJVNL to each displaced family.
2.    1% of total generation as per the government notification to project affected family/Displaced family.
3.    Provide ownership rights to the allotted land and plot, developed land and fertile land, where grower can do agricultural activities.
4.    Consider Jhakri  Panchayat  under affected panchayat of R.H.E.P.
5.    Allot home for home i.e. the homes which were demolished for the project construction.



Nathpa Jhakri Visthapit Kalyan Samiti is fighting for the rights of displaced/project affected people,and will fight till all the displaced or affected people will get their  rights...


Now all our demands are under consideraration...  

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SJVNL Resettlement & Rehabilitation Policy 1500 MW

SJVN being a responsible corporate citizen is taking utmost care in resettlement and rehabilitation of its Project Affected Families (PAFs) whose land, house and other assets have been acquired or source of livelihoods have been affected. It has formulated and adopted exhaustive R&R plans which are being vigorously implemented in Projects . The basic objective of the R&R Plans are to increase the socio-economic standard of the PAFs or at least retain their previous standard. The major components of the plans are providing of alternative agricultural land, suitable constructed house or cash assistance for construction of house, employment, financial assistance for self assistance and various infrastructural facilities in their rehabilitated areas. The Nigam has followed the resettlement and rehabilitation policy formulated in consultation with Government of Himachal Pradesh to provide assistance and rehabilitation measures to all those who are affected by the project. Its various provisions are :

    ImageDeveloped agricultural land to land less Project affected families (PAFs) equivalent to the area acquired or 5 bighas which ever is less. This 5 bighas would include any land left with the family after acquisition. Allotment of land will be made on the basis of landless certificate issued by the sub Divisional Magistrate of the concerned area who also acts as R&R Officer of the Project.
    24 houseless families have been provided constructed houses in a well organized Rehabilitation Colony and 44 houseless families, as per their option, have been provided cash assistance of Rs. 45,000/- each for constructing houses.
    75 displaced shopkeepers from Jhakri, have been provided shop plots in a organized Market Complex to restart their business.
    Preference of allotment of shops at the shopping complex built at Project site –Jhakri to the displaced shopkeepers.
    Provision for suitable employment to one member of each landless PAFs according to his capacity and qualifications, subject to availability of vacancy. However, a PAF who has been allotted a shop or plot will not be eligible for employment.

All these benefits are in addition to land benefit to PAFs under Land acquisition Act 1894.
The salient works under taken under R&R are as below

    Land acquired from 480 families from 22 villages
    107 landless families have been provided agricultural land
    62 families became landless.
    43 families were given cash in lieu of alternative house.
    17 families were provided built up house.
    41 were provided with land for land benefit.
    3 have been provided shops in shopping complex.
    61 landless families have been provided regular employment.
    45 landless families have been provided alternative package of Rs. 2-3 lacs in lieu of employment.
    53 other project affected families have been provided financial assistance up to Rs. 20,000/- under Income Generation Scheme for self employment.
    46 students from PAFs have been provided Merit Scholarship for pursuing Technical Education.
    16 awareness camps for horticulture / veterinary / agriculture practices have been organized in the affected areas.
    18 schools situated in project-affected villages have been provided infrastructural and other aids like furniture, teaching aids, sports items etc.
    Vehicles from 31 PAFs have been deployed for project works.
    9 water supply schemes (WSS) in the affected villages have been provide through HP IPH Deptt. in lieu of dried up water sources in the area.
    32 contractors from PAFs have been provided petty contracts with the project.
    A mobile Health van has been put into operation to provide free medical services and medicines in Project affected villages and surrounding villages.

NJHEP has also carried out following area developmental steps with a view to raise the quality of the life of the local residents

    Financial assistance of Rs. 17.5 crores to HP Govt. for construction of Rampur by-pass road.
    Finance assistance of Rs. 8 crores to HP Govt. for construction of 200 bedded Mahatma Gandhi Hospital at Rampur.
    Financial Assistance of Rs. 3.5 crores to HP Govt. for construction of road from Dam site Nathpa to village Nathpa.
    Financial assistance of Rs. 75 lacs to HP govt. for construction of helipad at Rampur.
    Financial assistance of Rs. 5 lacs to HP Govt. development of parking facility at Bus Stand Rampur.
    Financial assistance of Rs. 50 lacs to HP Govt. for construction of road from village Jhakri to Dhar Gaura village.
    Extension of education and hospital facilities existing at project area to the local people.
    Construction of various link roads in the project areas linking various villages on the National Highway.
    Construction of additional rooms and play grounds for various schools situated in the project area.
    Providing of 5 bighas of land to Jhakri Panchayat for construction of Panchayat Ghar / Mahila Mandal/Temple etc.
    Providing of financial assistance of Rs. 50,000/- each to 9 nos. of Mahila Mandals in the project affected villages.
    Drinking Water facilities in villages Jhakri and Kotla where displaced families were rehabilitated.
    Construction of English medium schools upto class 10+2 (DPS) at Jhakri
    Implementation of Infrastructural Development Scheme in Project affected panchayats with a recurring annual budget of Rs. 1.5 Crores.
    Mahila Mandal Bhawan at Puje(Nichar).
    Double story building to Govt. Middle School Baro(Sungra)
    Room and Hall for Panchayat Bhawan Ponda
    Panchayat Bhawan for Tranda Panchayat at Nigulsari(Tranda)
    Construction of houses for Rehabilitation for landless/houseless families at Jhakri
    Improvement of Dhar Gaura link road
    Special repair to the existing Bodh Mandhir Nigulsari
    Construction of pucca path/steps from Tayawal to cremation site near river Satluj
    Providing chain link fencing to the existing playground of Sr. Sec. School at Jhakri
    Construction of playground at village Kinnu
    Infrastructural facilities to the Schools : Govt. Primary School Sungra, Govt. Primary School Wadhal, Govt. Primary SchoolKochari, Govt. Primary School Kotla, Govt. Primary School Jeori, Govt. High School Wadhal, Govt. Sr. Sec. School Jeori

Mobile health Van
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A mobile health van for the benefits of Project Affected Families which visits the affected villages for health and hygiene awareness and treatment since Jan. 2000. So far 20,000 patients have been benefited and a sum of Rs. 25 lacs has been incurred on this activity.

In addition to above salient features the following schemes have been started with specific aim of care and development of Project Affected Families and local residents.
Income Generation Activities
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Support is provided to PAFs for starting Income Generation Activities such as poultry farm, milk diaries, taxis etc. A financial assistance is provided under this activity
Merit Scholarships Scheme for wards of PAFs

SJVN has also started Merit Scholarship scheme for the wards of PAFs who are undergoing vocational / professional courses in the fields of ITI’s, Diploma in Engineering/ Pharmacy ,Degree in engineering / Medicines .Under this scheme the wards will be provided scholarship @ Rs. 800/- Per Month to Rs. 1500/Per Month. 15 wards of PAFs are provided the Merit Scholarship.
Infrastructural Facilities and other aids to School

Infrastructural facilities and other aids in the shape of grants for Primary to Sr. Secondary level Government Schools within two Project area. Under this scheme financial assistance will be provided to the school so as to improve the infrastructure and other aids such as books, notebooks, computer, overhead projector, scientific equipment, extension of room etc., as per the requirements of the school . This scheme is linked to afforestation campaign also, where school students will be encouraged to plant saplings under a grant.
Compensation of Blast Damages

A compensation of 5.45 crores has been distributed to 5509 nos. local residents whose houses were affected due to blasting activities. This compensation was assessed by expert scientist of National Institute of Rock Mechanics and Geologist of Government of H.P.-
Scheme for Restoration of Water Sources

The construction activities of NJHEP extended in districts of Kinnaur and Shimla because of which water sources and schemes in the vicinity got affected. A sum of Rs. 88 lacs has been provided to Irrigation & PH Department, GOHP for restoration of dried up water sources and augmentation of water supply schemes got affected by project activities. A total of Rs. 145 lacs will be provided for this work.
Infrastructural Development Works
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SJVNL has spent Rs. 226 lacs on Infrastructural Development works in project affected area (project affected Panchayats ) ,where assistance is provided to affected Panchayats for community development buildings, school rooms, school play grounds, foot paths, foot bridges , cremation grounds etc.
Institutional Arrangement for R&R Implementation

Realizing need for proper infrastructure to implement the rehabilitation package, and help the PAFs to enhance their standard of living, SJVN has established Resettlement and Rehabilitation (R&R) cells at NJHEP & REHP with qualified professionals. Project Information Centres (PICs) are also operational at Jhakri and Rampur. The PICs are meant to act as a channel of communication between the local population and the Project Management.
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Awareness camp in village
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Rural sports and prize distribution
Impact Assessment of R&R Activities in NJHEP.

A study was conducted by Agro Economic Research Centre, HP University, Shimla (HP) on the impact assessment of Resettlement & Rehabilitation (R&R) plan undertaken by NJHEP.

In the said study, the magnitude indices during 2002 (after the NJHEP Project Implementation) have been compared with the base line study (situation existing as on 1996) and with the control sample household data (households in project area which were not affected by NJHEP).

The findings of the study are

    Family size of the PAFs declined from 7.14 to 5.44 persons per family.
    Literacy rate has increased from 58% to 73%.
    Average annual household income increased from Rs . 21,648 (at 1996 price level) to Rs. 76,575, which works out to be Rs. 29,114 in 1996 and Rs. 1,04,640 in 2002 at current price levels.
    Proportion of families lving below poverty line has decreased from 25.6% to 16.8% now.
    Average per capita monthly expenditure of PAFs increased from Rs. 575 to Rs. 674, showing an improvement in their consumption pattern and standard of living.
    Percentage of workers engaged in regular employment increased from 20% to 30%.
    Percentage of workers engaged in business increased from 7% to 9%.
    More people live in pucca houses (45% as compared to 21% earlier).
    More people have separate bathrooms in households (46% as compared to 21% earlier).
    Improvement in the overall living standards of the families due to NJHEP implementation.
    Diversification of income and employment avenues through income generation schemes, towards business and other self employment activities is taking place.
    Improvement in the housing standards, quality of health care due to enhancement of diagnostic facilities with the introduction of mobile health unit by SJVN.
    SJVN has taken measures to strengthen the existing infrastructure facilities, including health facilities and education and roads, which are providing immense benefits to the PAF’s in the project area.
    Project affected families have received full and adequate compensation. The compensation amount has been used rationally and judiciously by PAFs. Overall situation of PAFs is better now.

The above findings by HP University present the sincere and earnest efforts of SJVN to Implement R&R Plan.
World Bank Appreciation

The World Bank Mission has monitored the R&R activities carried out in NJHEP time and again and has appreciated the efforts made for rehabilitation of the PAFs as under;

"The success of the resettlement activity undertaken in this Project is quite rare for India, and can be considered as one of the best examples of resettlement implementation in Bank-Assisted Projects in India. It should be considered as an example for other projects."

Data copied from (source): http://sjvn.nic.in/project-details.htm?7&7

World Bank Resettlement & Rehabilitation policy for Rampur Hydropower Project,

Rampur Hydropower Project

The Government of India has requested the World Bank’s assistance to finance the proposed Rampur Hydropower Project (Rampur Project) being built on the upper reaches of the Sutlej river in the Shimla and Kulu districts of Himachal Pradesh. The Project is being developed by the Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (SJVN -- previously known as the Nathpa Jhakri Power Corporation, NJPC), a joint venture between the Government of Himachal Pradesh and the Government of India.

The 412 Megawatt (MW) Rampur Hydropower Project is planned as a cascade plant to India’s largest hydroelectric power plant, the 1,500 MW-Nathpa Jhakri plant. A 15-km underground tunnel will carry water emerging from the Nathpa Jhakri plant and bring it downstream to a powerhouse located near Bael village in Kulu district. As it uses de-silted water from the Nathpa Jhakri plant, the Rampur Project will not involve the construction of any dam, or reservoir or de-siltation chamber; nor will any land be inundated for the scheme.

The Rampur Project is expected to generate about 1,770 million units of electricity each year, which will feed into the Indian energy system through the Northern Region Electricity grid and help improve the quality of electrical supply to consumers, especially at peak-load times. Twelve percent of the total power generated at the plant will be passed on free to the state of Himachal Pradesh as royalty – the estimated annual value of this is around Rs 530 million. Himachal Pradesh can then choose to further sell the power to other states or else utilize it for meeting its own energy needs. In addition, in recognition of its investment in the project, the state of Himachal Pradesh will receive an additional allocation of around 109 MW of power and will also receive dividends from the project. The state will also be entitled to a share in the remainder of the power generated from the project.

The Project will also have significant environmental benefits. If a coal or oil-fired thermal plant of the same capacity were to be built instead of the Rampur hydro project, the emission of greenhouse gases would add about 12,000 tons of sulphur oxides, 6,000 tons of nitrogen oxides, and about 2 million tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere each year. By building and operating the Rampur hydropower plant, this pollution is being avoided.

Resettlement & Rehabilitation

The location and design of the Rampur Project have been finalized with the aim of minimizing adverse impacts on local people and their natural environment. Some 79 hectares spread across eight panchayats was acquired for the Project; of this, 49 hectares is forest land (although largely without forest cover) belonging to the Himachal Pradesh state government and some 30 hectares is private land belonging to 141 families comprising 167 landowners.SJVN’s corporate policies, taken together with the World Bank’s safeguard policies that govern resettlement and rehabilitation (R&R), have ensured that an equitable system of R&R and benefit-sharing is worked out for people affected by the Rampur Project. SJVN staff has consulted comprehensively with the project-affected people (PAPs), explaining the necessity of the Project, discussing with them the options for resettlement and rehabilitation as well as local area development. The Resettlement Action Plan and the Sustainable Community Development Plan that govern these initiatives are available at the site Public Information Center in Bael village, in public libraries at Rampur and Shimla, on SJVN’s website and from the World Bank's InfoShop.

The displaced families who will lose their houses will each get a plot of 280 sq. meters at a site of their choice on which to build their new houses. The families had a choice of options including that of a developed house or a plot, but all chose to construct their own houses. They will be given monetary help for the construction of 60 sq.meters of built up plinth area on which to construct their new homes, as well as a monthly rental allowance to help them tide over the period of construction (18 months) in a rented house. Each family will also receive a lump sum amount to help them meet the costs of shifting from one house to another.

A special package has been worked out for those 35 families who will be left with less than five bighas of land after the project has acquired their land it needs. Apart from the compensation for the acquired land, they will also receive a rehabilitation grant, depending on the amount of land left with them after acquisition. In order to help the PAPs recover from any loss of livelihood and also in order to help those interested in setting up additional income-generation schemes, SJVN will also offer seed money of upto Rs 30,000.

The Company has also undertaken to give preference to suitably-qualified candidates from landless families whenever a job opening comes up. The contractors working on the civil works of the Project have also been directed to give preferential employment to people from the project-affected area while hiring labor. All petty contracts on the Project upto a value of Rs 1 million are also being earmarked for PAPs. About Rs 12 million of such contracts have already been awarded to PAPs and more worth Rs 95 million have been given to people from other parts of Himachal Pradesh. Children from project-affected families and areas are being offered merit scholarships to acquire technical and vocational skills and the first batch of 35 students, including four girls, are already receiving training in a variety of trades.

Benefit Sharing

The villages impacted by the project – Fatti Bayal, Fatti Nirmand, Fatti Kushwa, Fatti Tunan, Fatti Poshana, Gadech (Koel), Duttnagar -- have also been ear-marked for special development assistance

SJVN has set aside Rs 125 million to be invested over a period of five years in infrastructure and development schemes for these villages, out of which Rs 6.20 million (out of the first-year budget of Rs 25 million) has already been spent/ works in progress. Thereafter, the villages will get Rs 7.5 million each year in perpetuity. Here again, the people have led the local area development exercise, choosing the infrastructure schemes they would like to see implemented in their villages. From street-lighting, through improved water supply to footpaths and footbridges, the villagers have identified their particular needs which are being funded by the scheme. The Company also runs a mobile health van that does the rounds of the project-affected villages taking basic healthcare to the doorstep of people living in remote areas and the Project is also setting up a dispensary at Bael village, the site of the proposed powerhouse for the Rampur Project.

SJVN, which as the developer of the already-operational Nathpa Jhakri Project has a long-standing relationship with the region, is also helping improve the quality of people’s lives beyond the project-affected villages. The Company is helping finance the renovation of the bus-stand at Rampur town; it is also helping build several access roads and bridges and helping improve infrastructure in local schools.

Benefits to Himachal Pradesh

Apart from the 12 percent free power it receives as royalty (worth approximately US$13 million or Rs 530 million annually at current prices), the host state of Himachal Pradesh will also get an additional 30 percent of power generated at Rampur project (109 MW) at cost; this is equivalent to its share of equity percentage in the project. And, as part owner of SJVN, the company developing the Rampur Project, Himachal Pradesh will also receive dividends on its investment in the project and also be entitled to a share in the remainder of the power generated from the project.

The state also stands to gain in terms of job creation and income-generation. The Rampur Project has already generated some 2,500 man-months of work for the people of Himachal Pradesh over the last one year and some Rs 107 million of petty contracts on the Project have already gone to people belonging to the state. So far 145 members of the families affected by the project were offered work under contractors.

Environmental Issues

In a bid to assess and mitigate possible environmental fallouts of building and operating the Rampur

Project, SJVN has undertaken a series of detailed studies that look into environmental aspects ranging from river flow, terrestrial biodiversity, forest impacts, etc. Baseline data on all these aspects has been collected by qualified teams, the findings and mitigating strategies have been discussed with experts as well as local communities, and an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) prepared. These documents can be accessed at the site PIC at Bael village, on SJVN's website and as well as from the World Bank's InfoShop.

Under the EMP, the Project will ensure that the minimum flow of water needed in the river Sutlej to preserve its aquatic balance is maintained. Also, in order to compensate for any adverse impact on the natural biodiversity of the region, the Project is helping the state forest department plant new forest cover and re-develop degraded forests through a Rs 66 million-compensatory afforestation scheme. A Catchment Area Treatment Plan has also been worked out and SJVN has made available a sum of Rs 220 million to the Himachal Pradesh government for activities that will include not just the planting of new trees in the region but also a host of other initiatives – like building check dams, retention walls, village tanks and ponds and plugging mountain gullies – to help prevent soil erosion and water conservation in this ecologically-sensitive area.

The project will also treat landslide-prone areas in the vicinity to prevent further degradation of the mountainside and effective disposal of sewage and construction debris will ensure that the project does not add to the pollution of either the river or the natural environment. The Plan will also cover environment-awareness activities, including convincing villagers to grow fodder on their farms in order to reduce grazing pressure on the forests, as well as to switch to solar cookers to reduce their foraging for firewood.

Dam Safety

Although the Rampur Project has no dam, both the Rampur and the Nathpa Jhakri projects depend for their water on the small reservoir entrained behind the Nathpa dam, which is situated deep in the canyon of the Sutlej river, upstream of the Rampur Project.

The dam at Nathpa is only 60 meters high and was built to a very rigorous specification and constructed following the World Bank policy on safety of dams. It is a steel-reinforced concrete gravity dam, with its foundations built into an excavation in the bedrock of the river. It has been designed to withstand the pressure of the water in the reservoir even during the unlikely event of an earthquake.

To further ensure its safety and water-tightness the dam abuts the riverbanks at a carefully chosen location on the Sutlej river, where the river canyon has strong shear walls. During its construction, a panel of experts was employed to advise SJVN on all aspects of construction of the dam as well as the underground works. Thus for the Rampur Project, dam safety aspects needed only to be re-confirmed; and accordingly, SJVN has engaged the Dam Safety Organization, Pune, which has examined and confirmed the safety of dam with respect to it stability, its instrumentation and its maintenance.

World Bank Statement on the Assessment of the Rampur Hydropower Project

May 2010: The World Bank has an established internal system of regularly reviewing the implementation progress of every project that it supports. The last such review of the Rampur Hydropower Project, being developed by SJVN Ltd (SJVNL) on the Sutlej river, indicated that the project was facing certain challenges in meeting its progress targets under difficult geological conditions.

The assessment made during this review was aimed at focusing the efforts of both the Bank and SJVNL on finding appropriate solutions to meet these challenges. SJVNL has, in consultation with the World Bank, drawn up an action plan to bring the project progress back on track. Once the implementation progress is satisfactory, the assessment will be revised upwards. As per World Bank financing terms, this assessment has no financial implications for the company.

For more information, please contact Sona Thakur: sthakur1@worldbank.org.

Source: http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2007/09/13/rampur-hydropower-project