Jammu, December 12, 2025:
Amid growing tension over reported efforts to mobilize a labour strike at the Ratle Hydroelectric Project, Megha Engineering & Infrastructures Ltd. (MEIL) on Friday issued a formal “Notice of Appeal” urging workers to abstain from any strike or work stoppage. The company warned that any such action would constitute a breach of contract and could lead to severe consequences, including termination, legal action, and potential suspension of construction activities at the Ratle Dam.
In its notice, MEIL alleged that an attempt to shut down the project was being “encouraged by a local MLA and a few individuals not employed by the company.” The firm maintained that the retrenchment of certain workers had been conducted strictly in line with legal provisions and with the permission of the Regional Labour Commissioner (RLC) Jammu. The RLC, according to MEIL, had already closed the matter after the company assured that retrenched workers would be re-engaged as and when their services are required.
However, local MLA Kishtwar, Shagun Parihar, has consistently maintained that her interventions are aimed solely at safeguarding the welfare and rights of workers associated with the project. Over the past months, the MLA has repeatedly taken up issues related to labour welfare, delayed payments, and service conditions with both district administration and project authorities. She has also urged the company to strictly follow labour laws and ensure a safe and dignified work environment for all employees.
Meanwhile, several sources familiar with the project’s operations claim that MEIL itself is facing financial distress, affecting its pace of work and labour management practices. They argue that the company’s attempt to shift blame toward the local MLA appears to be a strategy to divert attention from its internal financial challenges and avoid deeper scrutiny. Workers’ representatives have echoed similar concerns, noting that delays in wage disbursement and erratic engagement of manpower have contributed to dissatisfaction at the site.
Adding to this, MLA Shagun Parihar has also been vocally demanding the absorption of more local unemployed youth into the project, arguing that the Ratle Dam—being a major development initiative in the district—must generate maximum employment opportunities for residents of Kishtwar. She has publicly asserted that providing jobs to local youth would not only strengthen community support for the project but also minimize labour unrest.
The Ratle Hydroelectric Project has already faced a turbulent past. The project was earlier shut down after GVK Power & Infrastructure withdrew from it, causing years of delay and uncertainty. Given its strategic significance as a key project under the Indus Water Treaty, any prolonged disruption has far-reaching implications for India’s water rights and regional power generation capacity. The J&K administration has therefore been closely monitoring the project’s progress. Recently, the Chief Secretary of Jammu & Kashmir visited the site in the aftermath of Operation Sindhoor to review construction status, timelines, and security preparedness, underscoring the government’s commitment to ensuring that the project does not suffer further setbacks.
Supporting the growing public sentiment on employment issues, Member of Parliament Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo recently raised the matter of power projects in Kishtwar during a session of the Parliament of India. He accused project authorities of engaging a large number of workers from outside the region while allegedly denying adequate employment opportunities to local residents. The MP emphasized that major hydroelectric projects in Kishtwar—including the ongoing Ratle project—must prioritize local youth for jobs, especially in unskilled and semi-skilled categories.
MEIL, however, maintains that no recognized union within the Ratle Dam Project supports the proposed strike, reiterating that the agitation is driven by individuals not employed by the company. The notice, signed by Harpal Singh, Joint Chief Operating Officer, MEIL @ Ratle Dam, urges workers to remain focused on their duties, avoid being influenced by unauthorized groups, and ensure the uninterrupted progress of the strategically significant hydropower project.
