Landslide near Tehri dam construction site kills at least 29 people
A landslide traps 80 workers inside a tunnel. Bijnor bishop defends workers' rights.
Mumbai (AsiaNews) In the midst of the construction of a large hydroelectric dam, tragedy struck Tehri, a town in northern Indian State of Uttaranchal. Unremitting rainfall raised the Bhagirati river water levels causing it to overflow its banks and flood the surrounding area. A landslide resulted and the entrance to a tunnel caved in. At least 80 workers were trapped inside.
There are no final official estimates, but so far rescue workers have recovered 29 bodies. However, dozens of workers remain prisoners under a wall of mud. Unrelenting rain is still hampering rescue operations and has prevented the use of cranes to clear the tunnel.
Msgr. Gratian Mundadan (C.M.I.), Bishop of Bijnor, whose diocese covers the dam area, told AsiaNews that working conditions for construction workers have always been precarious. Speaking to our correspondent, he said that the Tehri Hydel project was highly contentious: "At 260 metres, the Tehri dam is the highest in Asia and has been the subject of controversy since its inception."
Although government officials have bristled at criticism and stressed the dam's positive impact on the State in terms of energy supply and water management, the dam itself is located in an area prone to natural disasters in the Himalayas and a tragedy like this week's was to be expected.
"Another serious problem with the dam," Msgr. Mundadan said, "is the displacement of 30,000 families from their ancestral lands without proper compensation." People have been moved to a new township in the hill area of Uttaranchal, but are dissatisfied with both the amount of compensation and the new location.
Given that Msgr. Mundadan's ministry also involves promoting the social well-being of the people of his diocese the bishop decided to send a diocesan priest to negotiate with the officials of the Tehri Hydro Development Corporation basic working conditions for the employees involved in the project.
"Most workers are tribal people or immigrants from neighbouring areas," the bishop pointed out. "Many are Christians and a lay catechist provides for their spiritual needs."
Most of them are also uneducated and willing to accept inequitable working conditions just to make money. For this reason, Bishop Mundadan had to negotiate with the company a half-day off on Sunday for Catholics to attend mass and have some time for rest.
Last week, he celebrated mass for the workers and their families, confirmed a few people and married a few more.
He is also involved in building a centre for disable children to be inaugurated on September 1.
There are 2,127 Catholics in Bijnor Diocese out of a population of over 3 million. The diocesan territory is served by 35 mission stations dispensing basic education and health care.
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