GVK's project partially suspended in U'khand: Govt

Taken aback by mounting protests against the suspension of infrastructure major GVK’s 330 Mw Alaknanda hydel project, the Uttarakhand government today said it had only partially suspended work around the Dhari temple which is coming under submergence area of the reservoir.

“Till the committee which has been set up by the government gives its report, the work of construction of the (Alaknanda) project will remain partially suspended around the Dhari temple only,” said state Energy Secretary Umakant Panwar.

Earlier, the government this week set up the committee under the Garhwal Commissioner to examine whether the Hyderabad based company was violating the MOU signed with the government as being alleged by a group local BJP and VHP leaders. The government had said that the work would remain suspended till the committee gives its report.

This led to wide-spread protests in Srinagar region where the project is being constructed with former Chief Minister B C Khanduri and senior Congress leader Satpal Maharaj openly condemning the move.

Claiming that the government has not shut down the Alaknanda project, Panwar said the GVK’s project was very important for the government which has no intention to close it.

Uttarakhand will get only 12 per cent of the share from the project as royalty.

Panwar said the decision to set up the committee was taken because there was an apprehension among a section of local people that the Dhari temple wilt be submerged in the reservoir. The local people were also raising fears that the height of the dam has been increased against the terms and conditions of the MOU, he added.

The government set up the committee to verify whether all the terms and conditions of the MOU/DPR are being followed by GVK and that the work of the project will remain suspended partially only around the temple. Other works of the project will continue, he said.