Jammu, Dec 13:Retrenchment of over 230 workers, alleged irregularities in recruitment, and engagement of controversial contractors have sparked anger among locals in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district. The controversy surrounds Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Limited (MEIL), the company executing the Ratle Hydroelectric Power Project, with residents claiming that even surrendered militants have been hired for project work in the sensitive mountainous region.
The discontent reportedly grew after a senior MEIL official, Harpal Singh, removed a large number of local employees — including several whose land had been acquired for the 850 MW project. Despite multiple attempts to contact him, Singh did not respond to calls. However, he reportedly told a section of the media that the local MLA was unnecessarily interfering in project operations.
The Ratle Hydroelectric Power Project is being implemented by Ratle Hydroelectric Power Corporation Limited (RHPCL), a joint venture between NHPC Limited — India’s premier hydropower company under the Ministry of Power — and the J&K State Power Development Corporation Ltd (JKSPDC). MEIL has been contracted for construction work on the project, located along the C NHPC,henab river in Drabshalla village.
According to project sources, 1,434 people have been employed in the project so far, including 960 from Kishtwar, 220 from Doda, 24 from Ramban, and 215 from outside J&K. Among the retrenched were around 35 workers who had lost their land to the project. “We have families to feed and children to educate. Terminating us without reason was unjust,” said one displaced worker who was let go in September 2025.
After protests, the ousted employees approached district authorities, prompting questioning of Singh by officials. He reportedly assured reinstatement but did not follow through. Sources alleged further that Singh had brought in a new HR general manager from Kashmir, who allegedly engaged surrendered militants, raising security concerns in the already volatile region.
Locals also accused Singh of political favoritism, claiming that some contractors were replaced to favor others linked to a particular Kashmir-based party.
MLA Shagun Parihar condemned the retrenchments, saying they violated labor laws. “The company tampered with appointment records to show workers were hired in 2023, denying them rightful benefits,” she alleged. “If outsiders take jobs in remote places like Kishtwar, where will our local youths go?”
Sources added that Singh’s failure to meet work targets could cost the company several crores, suggesting the retrenchments and political blame game were attempts to deflect accountability. Some employees echoed that view, accusing Singh of “blaming others to save his skin.”
Concerned citizens have now demanded a central probe into the irregularities, citing both employment injustice and serious security implications.
