DHARAMSHALA – The narrative of displacement in Himachal Pradesh has split into two contrasting realities. On one hand, the ongoing land acquisition for the Kangra (Gaggal) Airport expansion is being championed as a “Great Model” of rehabilitation. On the other, the ghosts of the Pong and Bhakra Dam displacements continue to haunt the state.
The Gaggal Success Story The administration has lauded the Gaggal process for its speed and the “lucrative” relief and rehabilitation (R&R) package offered to the 1,446 affected families. With 70% of acquisition complete, officials claim the process sets a benchmark for how development-induced displacement should be handled—with dignity and fair financial compensation.
The Historic Betrayal However, this efficiency rubs salt into the wounds of the Pong and Bhakra dam oustees. Displaced over five decades ago to build dams that power the nation, these families are still fighting for basic rights. Many Pong Dam oustees never received the promised land allotments in Rajasthan, facing hostility and legal hurdles instead.
Critics argue that while the “Gaggal Model” is a welcome change, it exposes the state’s prolonged apathy towards its earlier sacrifices. The question remains: Will the government apply this same “model” urgency to resolve the pending claims of the dam victims who have been waiting for half a century?
