Agrawal to resume fast against hydel projects

In a showdown with the Centre and the Uttarakhand government over hydel projects, environmentalist GD Agrawal will again begin his indefinite fast from tomorrow as part of his “save Bhagirathi” campaign.

The second fast by Agrawal, after a gap of seven months, comes close on the heels of the visit of members of a high-level committee to Uttarkashi district, to assess the ecological impact of hydel projects on the river Bhagirathi.

The committee members during the weekend visited all those hydel projects, which were put on hold by the state government last year. The projects include 480-Mw Pala Maneri and 381-Mw Bhairon Ghati on the Bhagirathi.

The two projects were suspended last year after an agitation by Agrawal and other top environmentalists, who were opposing them on environmental grounds. Following the agitation, the Centre set up a committee to assess the impact of the hydel projects on the Bhagirathi.

Meanwhile, the state government has urged the committee to give its final report as early as possible so that the construction of these projects can be restarted. “We want to restart the construction of these projects as early as possible,” Chief Minister BC Khanduri told Business Standard.

This time, Agrawal, who is going on fast in New Delhi from tomorrow, is apprehending that the committee might give its report favouring the construction of hydel projects on Bhagirathi river. The sources said Agrawal might be exerting pressure on the Centre, since the committee is expected to give its report shortly.