Locals Protest 1200 Crore Solar Project In Maithon

Villagers near the Maithon dam are opposing a new 1200 crore solar power project. Local displaced families and Damodar Valley Corporation officials recently held a tripartite meeting to discuss the issue.

Demands Of Displaced Families

The displaced families stated that their lands and homes were submerged during the construction of the Maithon dam. They alleged that promises of jobs, schools, drinking water, and free electricity made decades ago remain unfulfilled. Villagers are now demanding free electricity for nearby villages and jobs for local youth before allowing the solar project work to proceed.

DVC Response On Demands

DVC administration officials stated that providing free electricity is not within their jurisdiction and requires government policy approval. Regarding employment, DVC stated that permanent jobs are not possible, but local youth will get priority for unskilled work through the project contractor L&T Power. Since no final solution was reached in the meeting, the work on the 234 megawatt floating solar project is currently stalled.