Reconciled to the fact that the Tehri Dam would drown their town and houses, residents of Tehri town are fighting their last battle for compensation.
"No one can compensate for the loss of our life style and the change in our environment. But now our fight is to ensure adequate compensation for the physical losses we suffered," said 61-year-old Ramanand Bhatt, a resident.
Work on the establishment of the New Tehri town is in an advanced stage. But there are 12,000 residents, mostly landowners, who are still holding on. "Most of the landowners were compensated in early 80s. Nearly 30 per cent got less than Rs 20,000,” said
Bhatt.
The families complain that the meager amounts are not enough. They demand at least five lakhs rupees for each family before they have to leave.
The Chief Minister, meanwhile, has assured the landowners that they would be properly rehabilitated.
