Uttarakhand
,
Pathri
,
Haridwar
Published :
Jun 2017
|
Updated :
Tehri Dam Displaces 40 Villages in Uttarakhand, Oustees Demand Revenue Village Status
Reported by
Ishan
Legal Review by
Anmol Gupta
Edited by
Anupa Kujur
Households affected
24000
People affected
2007
Year started
12
Land area affected
Households affected
24000
People Affected
2007
Year started
12
Land area affected
Key Insights
Sector
Land Use
Reason/Cause of conflict
Other Kind of Land Use
Conflict Status
Ongoing
Ended
Legal Status
Region Classification
Rural
Ended
Sector
Land Use
Reason/Cause of conflict
Other Kind of Land Use
Conflict Status
Ongoing
Ended
Legal Status
Region Classification
Rural
Ended
1
Summary

The government initiated a multipurpose dam in Tehri Garhwal district in 1962, and 40 villages were displaced to construct it. In 1979, the displaced were rehabilitated to Pathri Part 1, 2, 3 and 4 in Haridwar. The outsees rehabilitated have [not been provided ](https://counterview.org/2015/08/18/24000-people-displaced-because-of-tehri-dam-have-not-been-provided-with-land-rights-nor-do-they-have-basic-amenities/#:~:targetText=The oustees have not yet,have no property to show)with land rights on the rehabilitated land nor do they have basic amenities, such as healthcare and transport. They have been demanding land rights for at least 35 years to every state government in power, but no one paid heed.

Due to lack of legal rights over the land, the outsees have been unable to [avail](https://counterview.org/2015/08/18/24000-people-displaced-because-of-tehri-dam-have-not-been-provided-with-land-rights-nor-do-they-have-basic-amenities/#:~:targetText=The oustees have not yet,have no property to show) any government facility, such as ration card and subsidies, or apply for bank loans. They have no property documents, although in 2004, some families received an occupancy certificate.

In 2015, four decades after their struggle, the Uttarakhand government finally recognised three villages as revenue villages. With this recognition, these villages are now entitled to land rights and basic amenities, such as electricity, water, health services, educational institutions and banks. The three villages belong to Pathri Part 2, 3 and 4 and have been renamed Tehri Bhagirathi Nagar, Ghonti Village and Chhaam by the district magistrate. But the villages in Part 1 are yet to get a revenue village status.

In 2017, a delegation of the affected people met with officials of the Tehri Hydro Power Corporation to tell them about their problems after resettlement, following which efforts were made to form village panchayats in the area to undertake developmental work.

Nine villages that were displaced were declared revenue villages in August 2020, making them eligible for government schemes. As of October 2020, six panchayats were formed. However, not all the villages have been accorded revenue status.

In January 2024, Harish Rawat, the ex-Chief Minister of Uttarakhand addressed a press conference bringing attention to this issue. He said, in 2016, the then government had instructed the administration to grant ownership rights to the villages in Pathri 1,2,3,4 and documents had been prepared for implementation of the orders. However, the government changed before the process could be completed and this was put on hold by the new regime.

2
Fact Sheet

Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Demand for legal recognition of land rights

Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Revenue village status

Region Classification

Rural

Type of Land

Common

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?

Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?

Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)

Status of Project

Project completed

Original Project Deadline

Whether the Project has been Delayed

Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users

Other Natural Resource extraction/dependence

Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict

Source/Reference

Total investment involved (in Crores):

8392

Type of investment:

Revised Investment

Year of Estimation

1962

Page Number In Investment Document:

Has the Conflict Ended?

When did it end?

Why did the conflict end?

4
Additional Information

Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:

Irrigation department

PSUs Involved in the Conflict:

Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?

No

Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached

Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:

Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?

No

Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:

Tehri Visthapit Movement

5
Information on the use of criminal law

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?

Legal Supporting Documents

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Author
Reported by
Ishan
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Fact sheet

Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Demand for legal recognition of land rights

If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?

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?

Status of Project

Project completed

Original Project Deadline

Whether the Project has been Delayed

Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users

Other Natural Resource extraction/dependence

Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict

Source/Reference

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