“The residents of Chaien village have been waiting for 13-14 years for rehabilitation,” Sati said.
Recurring loss and constant fear
“We live in constant fear of death due to rocks falling from the mountains and the earth shaking due to the tunneling work for the power project,” 62-year-old Yashoda Devi said.
She said 21 families whose houses had developed cracks due to the tunneling work were rehabilitated in Joshimath, located on the opposite mountain.
“We were assured of rehabilitation in a phased manner, but haven’t heard anything in the past few years,” Yashoda Devi said.
The Vishnuprayag Hydroelectric Project was awarded in 1992 by the then Uttar Pradesh government to Jaiprakash Power Ventures Limited. The run-of-the-river project entailed building a barrage in Lambagad, behind the mountain on which Chaien village is located. The water from the reservoir is diverted through tunnels under village.