DC an SJVNL meet with Panchyat

Deputy Commissioner, Kinnaur and SJVNL called Panchayat members from the six affected panchayats for a meeting at the district headquarters Reckong Peo and ordered the formulation of a Monitoring Committee. Due to the COVID-19 restrictions, Gram Sabha meetings were not being held and the formation of the Monitoring Committee was passed at the Panchayati level instead of consulting at the Gram Sabha.  Many Panchayat members present in the meeting disagreed with this move. 

The monitoring committee was to be chaired by the Additional District Magistrate, Pooh Block and various government officials along with recommended Panchayat members and other representatives from the impacted region were to be part of the committee. Members of Rarang and Akpa Panchayat in the meeting refrained from recommending any names but the administration included the names of the Panchayat members on its own accord. 

The Monitoring Committee was to be assigned to take account of the environmental impact and resource management before the construction, during the construction and after the construction of the project. 

Notification regarding the Monitoring Committee

Realising the impact such an imposition from the administration could play on the subsequent matters, a team of Youth club members from Akpa, Jangi and Rarang Panchayat started visiting the areas around the Satluj river bank including the villages of Rispa, Skiba, Ribba, Lippa, Asrang, Kanam, Spillow and Moorang to asses whether the people were aware of the project’s arrival and its impact on their respective regions. Conversations on resisting the project were initiated.