Zeenews Bureau
New Delhi: In view of the concerns about its effect on the fragile ecology in the Himalayas, the government has shelved two mega hydroelectric projects on the Bhagirathi River, one of the key tributaries of the Ganges, which originates at Gaumukh.
According to a report published in a leading daily on Wednesday, the government has decided not to initiate the process for construction of two projects - the 381MW Bhaironghati and 480MW Pala-Maneri – which were planned to built on the upper reaches of the river.
The government’s decision to shelve the projects will allow the Bhagirathi to flow in all its glory all through the year – a demand also pitched for by Hindu organizations, as they wanted the Bhagiarthi to flow unchecked till it reaches the plains as River Ganga.
The report also claimed that the government might even decide to shut down the ongoing 600MW project at Loharinag-Pala in the wake of an assessment by experts on the environmental costs of the mega dam.
The decision, which is as a result of an intense lobbying by religious-political and environmental activists, also marks a departure from the times when the government disregarded any dissent on such projects.
The decision in this regard was reportedly taken last week, on March 25, by a three-member group set up by the Prime Minister.
The three-member group led by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and comprising Ministers for Power and Environment, Sushil Shinde and Jairam Ramesh respectively, conceded the demand to declare the entire 55-km stretch from Gaumukh to Loharinag-Pala as an eco-sensitive zone.
This would, in other terms, mean that no dam can be constructed in the area earmarked as an eco-sensitive zone.
In case the government decides to scrap the Loharinag-Pala project, the eco-sensitive zone will get extended to 155km that would be a big victory for environmental activists and locals who have strongly protested against the dangers of constructing dams on river Bhagirathi, which is the lifeline of Uttarakhand.
"It was taken out of respect for sentiments of faith and culture as well as technical questions raised about the impact of the dams,” Union Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh was quoted as saying.
However, dozens of other small and medium sized dams being built over other tributaries to Ganga might continue in the Uttarakhand region.
UPA`s decision to stop construction on Bhagirathi is a strong indication of an attitudinal change in government towards river management and hydro-projects.
It comes months after the first radical shift in policy-making when Union Environment Minister Ramesh had ordered an assessment of the cumulative impact of all planned hydro-projects on the river Teesta -- the lifeline of Sikkim.
