Hydel projects on Ganga face uncertain future

Green minister’s assurance of no dam has shocked developers.

Uncertainty seems to be growing over the fate of scores of new hydel projects on the river 

Ganga and its tributaries like Mandakini and Alkananda in Uttarakhand.Significantly, the hydropower sector in the hill state has already taken a nose-dive after the Centre declared a 135km-long eco-sensitive zone along Bhagirathi river between Gomukh to Uttarkashi.The latest concern came from the country’s highest seat of democracy where members in the Lok Sabha cutting across party lines expressed concern on the so-called threat being posed to the existence of river Ganga.

But the yesterday’s statement of environment minister Jayanthi Natarajan that the government will ensure its free flow came as a rude shock to the developers.

She also assured the members that no dam will be allowed in seismic zones. As most of the areas in the hill state fall under high seismic zones of V and IV, it will become virtually impossible developing new hydel projects in the entire state where river water is the key natural resource which is yet to be exploited fully. In yet another move, professor-turned-sanyasi G D Agrawal has again threatened to go on an indefinite fast from next month if all the hydel projects are not scrapped in all the tributaries of the Ganga. Agrawal had undertaken similar fast in 2008-09 which forced the BJP government in the hill state to suspend its two major hydel projects – 480 Mw Pala Maneri and 381 Mw Bhaironghati.

Along with the two, the Centre later scrapped one more hydel project – 600 Loharinag Pala on environmental and religious grounds. Since then, the no new project has been sanctioned in these rivers, officials said.

A series of new projects by companies like Larsen and Toubro, GMR, GVK, THDCIL and others entailing huge investments. “It is high time that the government must come out with a clear cut policy whether hydropower projects will be allowed to be built in the country or no,” said an irritant official of GVK group whose 330 Mw Sringar hydel project is facing the wrath of the local people on religious and environmental grounds.

Recently, the officials of different companies had also expressed concern over the Central government’s move to bring train to Garhwal region saying it would create a death-knell for the hydropower sector. “Be it BJP or Congress, all these parties are dead against the hydropower sector under the pressure of foreign powers,” claimed a state government official.