Centre now tries to save Valley of Flowers

After the Bhagirathi valley, the Centre has now turned its focus on the enigmatic Valley of Flowers in Uttarakhand to save it from a power project.

In a letter, Union Minster of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh asked the state government to stop the 24.3-Mw Bhyundar Ganga power project in order to save the famous Valley of Flowers situated in Chamoli district of the Garhwal region.

“I am sure you will not agree to any project that will destroy the serenity, splendour and richness of the Valley of Flowers,” said Ramesh in his letter to CM Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank.

Ramesh also cited concerns expressed by famous environmentalist Chandi Prasad Bhat against the project and reminded the state government that similar concerns had also been expressed in the past by late Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi.

Significantly, the Centre’s latest move came after it scrapped a series of hydel projects in the Bhagirathi valley this year in view of mounting environmental concerns and religious sentiments. A section of people in the hill state, however, condemn the Centre’s decision to stop these hydel projects.

When contacted, additional power secretary M C Upreti said he would look into the issue.

The Valley of Flowers, an irresistible Himalayan treat in the hill state for tourists and naturalists, had been bestowed with the status of the world heritage site by UNESCO in 2005.

Situated at a dizzying height of 3352-3962 metres, Valley of Flowers, which was discovered by Frank Smythe, a British mountaineer and explorer in 1931, is the second area to get such an honour after the famous Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve (NDBR) in the state.

The world famous 89 sq km valley, known for its immense biodiversity that include rare snow leopard is situated in upper expansion of Bhyundar Ganga in the far interior of Garhwal Himalayas.