'Involve domain experts to study impact of hydro power projects'

Move comes after SC passed a judgement on August 13 in case of Alakhnanda Hydro Power Co Ltd versus Anuj Joshi and others

Association of Power Producers has written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Environment and Forests Minister Jayanthi Natarajan asking to re-constitute a panel to include appropriate domain experts to conduct a balanced and unbiased study to assess social, ecological and economical impact of the hydro- power projects in Uttarakhand.

The move comes against the backdrop of the Supreme Court passing a judgment on August 13 in the Alaknanda Hydro Power versus Anuj Joshi and others case. The SC had said a detailed study needs to be conducted to understand whether existing as well as under-construction hydroelectric power projects in the river basins of Alaknanda, Bhagirathi and their tributaries have contributed to environmental degradation and to what extent. It also asked whether they have contributed to the floods that ravaged Uttarakhand in June this year.

Hydro-power projects in the state have come under the lens after the June tragedy. Following the disaster, it was cited that hydro-power projects have caused a huge impact on the environment and certain quarters have lobbied against the development of hydro-power projects in Uttarakhand. A committee set up by the water resources ministry has pointed out that the primary reasons for high discharge in the rivers was due to the melting rate of glaciers being high during the period and unprecedented, prolonged and heavy rainfall in the catchment.

The new expert body will also examine the impact of the 24 hydropower projects on the biodersity of Alaknanda and Bhaghirathi river basins.

The association has also said the study should delve deep into the root cause of the Uttarakhand disaster in a scientific manner.

According to the association, past experiences have shown that committees headed by individuals with a pre-conceived stated position usually deliver predictable reports, leading to loss of credibility. It gave the examples of Sardar Sarovar project where the Morse Committee report was dismissed as it was on predicted lines keeping with the chairman’s prior stated position. There are already whispers about the stated position of many of the proposed committee members, it added.

The association added the proposed chairman and co-chairman of the committee constituted by the ministry of environment and forests, Ravi Chopra and Chandi Prasad Bhatt, are known to have anti-hydropower projects views. It suggested the committee should be chaired and co-chaired by neutral experts, preferably from the Central government organisations such as the ministry of environment and forests, ministry of power and Planning Commission, so that terms of reference are properly taken care of.

It also suggested the committee have representatives from the Indian National Hydropower Association. It recommended the names of C M Pandit, former member of Central Water Commission; A B Giri, former chairman and managing director of Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam; and Jayant Kawale, former joint secretary of ministry of power.