"Besides giving employment to the locals, free electricity should also be given to the people of erstwhile Doda district because they have first right on the water flowing from their area," former Minister of State for Power and Health Peer Mohammad Hussain said addressing public meetings at Patimahal and Palimohal areas of Kishtwar assembly segment today.
Hussain expressed regret that residents of Chenab Valley, which provides electricity to many parts of the country, are not getting power supply.
"It is unfortunate that other parts of the country are benefited from the power generated by the projects located in this belt but the natives of this place are struggling to get power, even for a couple of hours throughout the day," he said.
The former minister said it was result of discriminatory water agreement signed by the successive National Conference regimes that locals are not getting benefit of the mega hydro electric projects located in this belt.