Bahuguna opposes hydel projects on Bhagirathi river

Chipko movement leader Sunderlal Bahuguna has vehemently opposed big hydel projects having underground long tunnels which he claimed were destroying the ecology of the Himalayan region.

“Instead of big projects like Loharinag Pala which are having long tunnels, we should build projects where the impact on the ecology is minimum. The blasting to dig a tunnel creates havoc in the local environment,” said Bahuguna, a recipient of Padam Vibushan. The centre had recently suspended the NTPC’s 600 Mw Loharinag Pala on Bhagirathi river where a 14 km underground tunnel is being built for harnessing hydropower.

“This does not mean that the hydropower should not be harnessed. We must not play with the environment and focus more on small run-of-the-river projects,” he added.

Bahuguna, a noted environmentalist, also expressed concern over the falling discharge in Bhagirathi which he said has reduced more than half since 1947. “This may be due to climate changes and other factors which are rapidly impacting the glaciers,” Bahuguna, a bitter opponent of the 2400-Mw Tehri multi-purpose hydel project.

Bahuguna’s comments have came ahead of a ministerial meeting tomorrow, where the fate of Loharinag Pala is likely be decided. The group of ministers headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee in March scrapped 480 Mw Pala Maneri and 381 Mw Bhaironghati hydel projects being built by the state-run Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (UJVNL) but set up a technical committee on Loharinag Pala.

The committee has already conducted a fresh survey of the Loharinag Pala last month. All the three projects are being opposed by environmentalists as well as sadhus and saints, who want the uninterrupted flow of Bhagirathi to continue.

While NTPC has so far invested Rs 650-700 crore in Loharinag Pala, the UJVNL spent Rs 100 crore in Pala Maneri.

According to an estimate, 10-15 big projects are being under different stages of construction and development where nearly 10-20 km long tunnels are being built.