7k women stage protest against hydel project on holy waterfall
Posted 26 August 2011, by Staff, The Times of India (Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd), timesofindia.indiatimes.com
MANALI: More than 7,000 women, including about 100 mahila mandals, took out a rally to show their opposition to the proposed 1 MW hydroelectric project near Vashisht village of Kullu.
The mini hydel project, allotted to Water Miller Hydro Company, is being set up on the stream of holy Jogni waterfall, which is considered as a shrine of Goddess Jogni. Having unwavering faith in the deity, angry women staged a demonstration and shouted slogans against the company. A rally was organized from Manali town to the project site and a memorandum to the chief minister was also sent through Manali SDM.
“Once this project is completed, the whole shrine would be desecrated,” a protester from Karjan Mahila Mandal, Bimla Devi said, adding that Goddess Jogni is known for her curse against wrongdoers and women do not want to make her unhappy.
Anoop Thakur, a retired DIG, who led the rally, said, “Setting up this hydro project is against the religious sentiments of the people. We won`t let the project to be completed at any cost.
Not only wildlife lovers and residents of Vashisht village, but thousands of women of Kullu are also against this project.”
Manali SDM Balbir Thakur assured the protesters that appropriate action will be taken.
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