The second largest donor of electoral bonds, Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Limited (MEIL), whose maximum donation went to BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) is surrounded with yet another controversy for executing its Rs 5,281 crore Ratle power project in Kishtwar in Jammu and Kashmir. A BJP legislator alleged that MEIL was working like the ‘East India Company’ on this project, the Jammu and Kashmir government accused the company for posing ‘grave threat’ to the environment with its ‘unscientific manner of blasting drilling, muck disposal and movement of vehicles’. The government said the construction process adopted by the company is causing ‘irreversible damage’ to the ‘flora-fauna and ecosystem’ of the eco-fragile region.
In November 2024, the company had to stop the construction work for an indefinite period due to frequent strikes and protests. The foundation stone of the project was laid in 2013. The residents in the vicinity of the 850 MW hydropower project have accused MEIL for causing physical damages to their properties like houses and shops. The unscientific blasting is causing respiratory issues and other diseases to the locals.
‘The project is meant for easing the lives of locals and not to harass them. What has the company done for the welfare of people here? Have they built any park or hospital? We will not allow their trend of working like ‘East India Company’ here. If the residents don’t want a dumping yard here, we will shift it to some other place’, said Shagun Parihar, the newly elected member of legislative assembly from Kishtwar while addressing a group of locals in Drabshalla village of Kishtwar in a video.
In the same video, Harpal Singh, the MEIL manager of Ratle project, is telling Parihar that more than 1,700 locals have been employed in the project, ‘if the government wants us to close it down, we will do it. We have employed people in the project on your (political) recommendations’. While on the other hand, Mohinder Kumar, a local leader of National Conference alleged ever since the project started in 2022, only those who are linked to the ruling party have been given jobs.
A show-cause notice was issued by the J&K Pollution Control Committee (JKPCC) to the MEIL with the warning to initiate legal action against the company under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 for allegedly flouting the environment norms during the construction work.
Open blasting had caused air and noise pollution in Drabshalla, according to the JKPCC committee. It also said that the company failed to install meters for constant monitoring of the environment and noise generation in complete violation of the conditions of Environment Clearance issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to the MEIL.
In September 2024, the J&K government’s public works department (PWD) also warned MEIL to stop ‘unauthorised movement of heavy vehicles’ on the roads around the project site in Kishtwar. PWD even threatened the company of getting a First Information Registered (FIR) against the company if they do not comply with the orders .
Environment Norms Flouted in J&K Power Project, BJP leader Says, MEIL Working like ‘East India Company’