SRINAGAR, March 13 – The Jammu and Kashmir government has secured an 80% job reservation for local residents in Group C and D positions within the Chenab Valley hydropower projects, aiming to bolster employment opportunities for the region’s youth, Rising Kashmir reported.
The policy targets communities affected by major hydroelectric developments, including the 1000 MW Pakaldul, 624 MW Kiru, and 540 MW Kwar projects under Chenab Valley Power Projects Limited (CVPPL), as well as the 850 MW Ratle project under Ratle Hydroelectric Power Corporation Limited (RHPCL).
The announcement came in response to a question raised by MLA Doda Mehraj Malik in the Legislative Assembly, with the government detailing employment provisions embedded in agreements between the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) and the Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Corporation (JKPDC). These entities operate CVPPL and RHPCL as joint ventures with a 51:49 shareholding split.
Under the provisions, 80% of Group C and D staff—covering workmen and lower-tier roles—must be permanent residents or domiciles of Jammu and Kashmir. The memorandum of understanding for the Ratle project further reserves 10% of these positions for Project Affected Families (PAFs), Rising Kashmir noted.
For Group A and B roles, such as executives and supervisors, at least 49% of staff will be Jammu and Kashmir residents, recruited either through deputation from NHPC and JKPDC or directly by the joint ventures.
Contractors for the Ratle project are required to prioritize local labor—unskilled, semi-skilled, and skilled—with displaced PAFs given first preference. The project also reserves specific contracts for PAFs through competitive bidding, including vehicle hiring, maintenance, and housekeeping services worth 20 lakh rupees ($23,800), as well as small-scale contracts under 25 lakh rupees ($29,750) for horticulture, painting, and road maintenance.
Current construction data shows the CVPPL projects—Pakal Dul, Kiru, and Kwar—employ 8,414 workers, of whom 7,023 (87.6%) are locals from Jammu and Kashmir. The Ratle project has engaged 1,705 workers through contractors, with 1,435 (84.16%) being locals, including 253 (14.84%) from PAFs, as per report.
The government described the initiative as a key step toward ensuring economic benefits for affected communities, stating that over 80% of the workforce comprises regional residents. “This is a significant step toward securing employment for local youth while ensuring that affected communities receive due benefits,” the government said in its assembly reply.
The measure is expected to enhance economic stability and job security across the Chenab Valley region.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
