Hold insurance claim as Rishiganga power project authorities not co-operating in rescue, help to victims: Chamoli DM to insurance company

Dehradun: In a letter to the authorities of New India Assurance company, which had insured the Rishiganga hydropower project, district magistrate of Chamoli, Swati Bhadauria, has asked them to hold the insurance claim of the power project firm as it has “neither helped the administration in rescue operations nor has come forward to help the victims and their kin.” According to sources, the Rishiganga power project authorities have sought an insurance claim of around Rs 110 crore from New India Assurance Company.

Talking to TOI, Bhadauria said that the insurance firm authorities have given verbal assurance to consider the administration’s request. “The Rishiganga power project company has not taken any action to support their own staffers so far. They haven’t helped the administration either in relief work nor have they provided any assistance to the families of the victims and missing people,” said the DM. She added that withholding their insurance claim will force the power firm to settle the dues they have towards their own workers on priority.

The Chamoli administration in its letter to the insurance firm also maintained that “there is dissatisfaction among the people due to the attitude of the firm.”

Atul Sahai, CMD of the New India Assurance Company Limited, when queried about the matter, said that the owner of the Rishiganga power project was given an ‘Industrial All Risk policy’ under which the claim can only be entertained when the property is reinstated. “As per my information, the reinstatement process hasn’t started as yet so the compensation claim is not applicable so far,” added Sahai.

Meanwhile, the officials of the Rishiganga power project could not be reached despite several attempts by TOI.

Source: The Times of India