Current Summary
According to a September 27 ETV Bharat report, residents of around 20 villages in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh staged a protest at Kwanu village, blocking a road to oppose the site selection for the proposed Kishau dam project on the border of the two states. Protesters submitted a memorandum addressed to Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami through Chakrata's Sub Divisional Magistrate, Prem Lal. Villagers said planning for the project has continued for decades without their involvement, and raised concerns that hundreds of hectares of fertile agricultural land in Kwanu and surrounding areas would be submerged, threatening the livelihoods of hundreds of families. They are demanding dialogue on options to protect the villages and land, and on a displacement and compensation policy. Munna Rana, patron of the Kishau Dam Affected Protection Committee, said the group had met the Chief Minister a year earlier. Protesters have warned of intensifying their agitation if the government does not respond.
What We Know
- Residents of about 20 villages blocked a road at Kwanu village on Sunday, September 27.
- A memorandum was submitted to the CM via Chakrata's SDM, Prem Lal.
- Protesters say fertile agricultural land and hundreds of families' livelihoods are threatened by the proposed dam.
- The Kishau Dam Affected Protection Committee says villagers met the CM a year ago with no resolution.
What Is Still Unclear
- Current official status of the Kishau dam project and site decision.
- Timeline for any displacement or compensation policy.
- Government response to the latest protest.
What Changed
- 29 Sept, 06:23 pmSignal detected: Villagers Protest Kishau Dam Site Selection on Uttarakhand-Himachal Border
Background
The Kishau dam, planned on the Tons river on the Uttarakhand-Himachal Pradesh border, has been under discussion for decades.