Dehradun : Tehri Hydro Development Corporation India Limited (THDCIL)’s decision to pay Rs 5 lakh to the families of each worker killed and Rs 1 lakh to each injured worker in the Vishnugad-Pipalkoti Hydropower Project tunnel accident has drawn criticism from activists, who questioned whether the compensation was adequate given the scale of the project and the risks involved.
Concerns Over Compensation After Fatal Accident at THDCIL Project
On August 13, eight workers lost their lives and two remain missing following an accident at the under-construction tail race tunnel of THDCIL’s hydropower project in Mayapur, Chamoli district. The project’s estimated cost has now exceeded Rs 6,800 crore. In response to the incident, THDCIL has announced an ex-gratia payment of just Rs 5 lakh for each deceased worker’s family, a figure that has drawn sharp criticism.
Social activist Anoop Nautiyal described the compensation as grossly inadequate, stating, “The amount is disproportionate to the scale of the project and raises serious ethical questions about how we value the lives of workers undertaking dangerous infrastructure projects.”