Villagers protesting over their demands
Bilaspur, April 9:Â
The ongoing construction of Tunnel Number-17 under the Bhanupalli-Beri railway line project in Himachal Pradesh has sparked growing unrest among residents of Nog and Badhiat villages in the Sadar sub-division of Bilaspur. For the fourth consecutive day, angry villagers have halted the construction work, protesting at the south portal of the tunnel and voicing their concerns against the company responsible for the construction and Rail Vikas Nigam.
The villagers are accusing the construction activities, particularly the vibrations caused by tunnel digging, of causing severe damage to their homes. More than 15 houses in the affected areas have developed deep cracks, with some homes now deemed uninhabitable. Local residents fear that if the situation continues unchecked, a serious accident could occur.
The villagers are frustrated by the lack of action from the authorities. They claim they were promised compensation and rehabilitation, but no relief has been provided so far. In addition, the construction of the tunnel has led to the drying up of Bawdi, the village’s primary water source, leaving residents struggling to access clean water. Furthermore, the roads connecting the villages have been damaged due to construction work, and these roads remain unrepaired.
Despite being directly impacted by the rail project, local villagers allege that they have not been offered employment opportunities by the company involved in the tunnel’s construction. This ongoing protest is not the first; in December, villagers had halted work to press their demands but were pacified by promises from the authorities, which have yet to materialize.
Tunnel-17 is being constructed between the Badhiat and Nog villages, with the portal in Badhiat having been under construction for about a year. The second portal in Nog village was started in December. The villagers have made it clear that their protest will continue until they receive proper compensation, rehabilitation, employment opportunities, and the restoration of essential services and infrastructure.
As the villagers maintain their stance, the pressure on the authorities to address their grievances is mounting, with no resolution in sight yet.
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