Hydel Projects in Uttrakhand: Objections by environmentalists may be well placed but they should take distance from the Hindu Right groups

The Tribune (Chandigarh), September 17, 2009

Faith interrupts power generation:

Right-wing Hindu groups and environmentalists are against hydro projects on the Ganga

by SMA Kazmi
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, September 16

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank will find it increasingly difficult to decide the fate of the two stalled power projects, Pala Maneri and Bhairon Ghati phase-1 and 2 of the state government, to be built on the Bhagirathi upstream of Uttarkashi town following strong objections from Sangh Parivar affiliate - the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP).

Ashok Singhal, international president of the VHP and the Ganga Raksha Manch, a body of Hindu saints, have decided to march towards the Lohari Nagpala power project being built by the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) on the Bhagirathi river if the work is not completely stopped on the project by Sharad Purnima which falls on October 3.

Singhal, who was in Dehradun last week, was candid in his demand for stoppage of all power projects.

He, in the presence of the Chief Minister, voiced his demand against any power project on the Ganga.

The Chief Minister could only nod in the affirmative in front of the VHP chief. Since Nishank comes from an RSS background and is not a political heavyweight, it is believed that he will toe the right wing Hindu line on the Ganga than have his own policy on power projects.

Even former Chief Minister Maj-Gen BC Khanduri (retd), who was much more powerful, had to stop work on the Pala Maneri and Bhairon Ghati projects following an indefinite fast by Prof GD Agarwal, a noted environmentalist, in June 2008.

Professor Agarwala restarted his fast in January 2009 in protest against the construction of the Lohari Nagpala project built by the NTPC forcing the Union government to stop work.

With the Mahakumbh Mela starting in January 2010, the BJP state government headed by Chief Minister Nishank will be in no position to annoy the saints and sadhus who will be gathering in large numbers at Haridwar by this year-end.

Singhal said the announcement by the Prime Minister to declare the Ganga as the national river and the formation of the Ganga River Basin Authority comprising Chief Ministers of riparian states had no meaning unless the sanctity of the Ganga was maintained by stopping work on all hydroelectric projects being built on the river.

Amid all this, Uttarakhand finds itself at the crossroads on the issue of generation of hydropower from rivers, particularly the Ganga, as there is pressure from the right-wing Hindu groups as well as environmentalists.

The state wants to harness the hydro-power potential of its water bodies to make itself an “energy state” by allowing tapping of 20,000 MW of power in the next 10 years.

On the other hand, following a petition by environmentalists, the Nainital High Court has directed the newly formed Ganga Basin River Authority to decide the fate of the hydroelectric projects on the Bhagirathi.

The Uttarakhand government finds itself in a piquant situation on the important issue of speedy construction of hydroelectric projects that can bring prosperity to the state.

Politics has affected power projects earlier as well. The state government has had to abandon the Pala Maneri and Bharion Ghati hydroelectric projects under pressure from right-wing activists who demand that there should not be any power project on the Bhagirathi between Gangotri and Uttarkashi.

Cost overrun and inordinate delays have plagued the Lakhwar-Vyasi multi-purpose hydel project on the Yamuna near Dakpathar. The project will produce 420 MW of power on completion.

Vijay Bahuguna, MP, Tehri Garhwal, recently organised a bandh in Uttarkashi in protest against the decision of the Union government to stop work on the Lohari-Nagpala project built by the NTPC in February 2009 following the threat by environmentalist Professor Agarwal to resume his indefinite fast.

“Politics should not determine the fate of power projects that are essential for the development of our nascent state. The Chief Minister should come out with a policy on power projects,” said Bahuguna.

The Uttarakhand government had taken over the Lakhwar project from the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) after work on the Pala Maneri and Bhairon Ghati projects was stopped.

Singhal said the Ganga River Basin Authority should not be a tool of politics, but an autonomous body of sadhus, saints and eminent scientists.

He said since it was a question of faith of crores of Hindus, there should not be any activity that could spoil the sanctity of the Ganga.

He also announced the formation of a group of specialists to study the negative impact of hydroelectric projects. The group will give its report before October 3 to let the Ganga Raksha Manch decide about its march towards Lohari Nagpala project in Uttarkashi district.

Singhal added that the power needs of the country could be catered to through other methods like nuclear, solar or gas-based projects. Hence, there was no need to tamper with the Ganga by constructing hydroelectric projects.

Apart from right-wing Hindu groups, environmentalists are also up in arms against these big hydroelectric projects. Led by noted Gandhian Radha Behn, common people from various river valleys protested for over a year against the damage caused to flora and fauna and their own lives through these projects in the state last year.

“The existence of rivers, including the Ganga, is threatened by the 330 big, medium and small dams planned throughout the state.

“Not only are the rivers and their ecosystems in peril, but the lives and livelihood of hundreds of villages are bound to be affected," said Dr Ravi Chopra of the People’s Science Institute, a voluntary group campaigning for better management of rivers and their eco-systems.

Amid all this din, the state government seems completely confused.