Centre not to allow projects on Bhagirathi

The new year may not auger well for the power sector in Uttarakhand with the Centre not in favour of construction of new hydropower projects on the holy Bhagirathi river in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, apparently under pressure from environmentalists and VHP leaders.

However, NTPC, whose 600 Mw Lohari Nagpala project was suspended along with the state-run 480 Mw Pala Maneri and 480 Mw Bhaironghati projects on environmental and religious grounds, may get a breather, a top official here said. These are the broad recommendations of a high-powered committee which recently submitted its report on the hydel projects on Bhagirathi to the Centre. A final decision has to be taken by the Ganga River Basin Authority, which was set up early this year under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

But the government-controlled Uttarkhand Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (UJVNL), which is constructing both Pala Maneri and Bhaironghati would bear the brunt of the report as the two suspended projects may not see light of the day. “This is the most likely scenario. I don’t think that the Centre will allow us to complete these two UJVNL’s projects,” said the official.

MoS for environment and forests Jairam Ramesh has already made it clear that NTPC’s Lohari Nagpala project, where nearly 30 to 40 per cent of the work with an investment of Rs 600-800 crore has been completed would only be allowed to go further, that too with some riders. NTPC officials here, however, said they were hoping for a positive response from the prime minister.

Meanwhile, the Centre is likely to take a final decision on the Bhagirathi report only after the culmination of the mahakumbh mela at Haridwar in April-May which is expected to attract 3-5 crore people.

The Centre last month sent the high-powered committee to assess various issues concerning the three projects. The committee was led by Union Power Secretary H S Brahma and Union Secretary for Environment and Forests Vijay Sharma.

While NTPC’s Lohari Nagpala, which is being built in Uttarkashi district with an investment of Rs 2,500-3,000 crore was at a very advanced stage, the UJVNL had also done considerable work on Pala Maneri and Bhaironghati.