In 2021 monsoon, Batseri and Neugal Sari areas of Kinnaur district, a notified tribal district of Himachal Pradesh, witnessed landslides in which several human lives were lost. The landslides had a spiralling impact on local tribal communities of Kinnaur who started a dedicated public campaign in August 2021, to oppose new hydro projects. They blamed these projects for destabilising their hills and triggering these landslides. The communities also viewed these projects as causing ecological changes in Kinnaur's cold desert region, and impacting their agricultural activities and livelihood.
In 2018, the 804 Megawatt Jangi-Thopan Hydro Electric project was awarded to the Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN), a public sector unit. The project is proposed on Satluj River near the village Jangi by creating a 157 feet (48 meter) high dam. As much as 143.2 hectare of forest land would be completely under water once this project is commissioned, revealed the project report.
However, the project was brought to a halt due to the protests in Kinnaur's Jangram valley, which began from 2021 onwards. The protests were led by the youth clubs of villages of six panchayats of Jangi, Moorang, Kanam, Spilo, Aakp and Rarang. As it is their forest and private lands on which the project has been proposed. Their campaign slogan 'No Means No' reflected their decisive refusal for the project. Their frequent protests forced the local administration to seek their feedback on an urgent basis through the gram sabhas of affected panchayats.
The prior consent of villagers for implementing such projects is also mandated by section 41 of The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 and Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 since Kinnaur falls under notified scheduled tribe area. The meeting for seeking this consent was fast tracked due to protest by villages. At the meeting, the village panchayats refused to give their consent to the project in April 2022.
Abid Hussain Sadiq, Deputy Commissioner, Kinnaur told LCW that none of the six affected panchayats was willing to give their no objection certificate for the project. “We have sent the factual report on the ground to the state government for necessary directions,” he said. A committee has been formed under the chief secretary of Himachal Pradesh to examine the report submitted by the DC Kinnaur.
Vikas Mahajan, general manager at SJVN confessed that the project could not take off due to resistance by villagers. "Even the preliminary technical investigation is pending, which is a first step for project’s execution. We are trying to dispel the misconception of villagers regarding this project," he said. "The project is likely to displace 175 households, for which a proper relocation and rehabilitation plan will be implemented," added Mahajan.
However, locals are not convinced. Jiya Lal of Himlok Jagriti Manch, one of the NGOs involved in the current anti-hydro project campaign, said that the problem is that their existence in the hills is in danger. He said there are several studies revealing that hydro projects weakened the hills and increased the frequency of landslides and flash floods. Besides, the diversion of river water dried up natural irrigation water channels and affected their agriculture production, the only source of living in the area. Locals also blame extreme weather events on these hydro projects too.
In November 2023, the Himachal Pradesh State Cabinet cancelled the allotment of the Jangi Thopan Powari HEP to SJVNL, citing the company's failure to meet implementation deadlines.
Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Demand to cancel the project
Refusal to give up land for the project
Opposition against environmental degradation
Demand to retain/protect access to common land/resources
Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Region Classification
Rural
Type of Land
Common and Private
Forest and Non-Forest
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)
Status of Project
Project scrapped
Original Project Deadline
Whether the Project has been Delayed
Yes
Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users
Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict
Data Unavailable
Source/Reference
Total investment involved (in Crores):
₹
5708.35
Type of investment:
Cost of Project
Year of Estimation
2020
Has the Conflict Ended?
Yes
When did it end?
November/2023
Why did the conflict end?
In November 2023, the Himachal Pradesh State Cabinet cancelled the allotment of the project to SJVNL.
Categories of Legislations Involved in the Conflict
Legislations/Policies Involved
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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Whether claims/objections were made as per procedure in the relevant statute
Yes
What was the claim(s)/objection(s) raised by the community?
What was the Decision of the Concerned Government Department?
Legal Processes and Loopholes Enabling the Conflict:
Legal Status:
Out of Court
Status of Case In Court
Whether any adjudicatory body was approached
No
Name of the adjudicatory body
Name(s) of the Court(s)
Case Number
NA
Main Reasoning/Decision of court
Major Human Rights Violations Related to the Conflict:
Whether criminal law was used against protestors:
No
Reported Details of the Violation:
Date of Violation
Location of Violation
Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:
District Disaster Management Authority, Kinnaur, Forest Department, Government of Himachal Pradesh
PSUs Involved in the Conflict:
Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN)
Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?
Yes
Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached
Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:
NA
Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?
Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:
Local tribes peoples, village youth clubs of all six panchayats
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?
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