Protests in U'khand against closure of hydel projects

Protests have mounted in Uttarakhand against the closure of major hydel projects with the move likely to create an adverse affect on investment scenario in the hill state.

Protests have triggered after the suspension of GVK’s 330 Mw Alaknanda hydel project and closure of 600 Mw Loharinag Pala, 480 Mw Pala Maneri and 381 Mw Bhaironghati hydel projects on Bhagirathi river in Uttarkashi district.

Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD), a coalition partner of the BJP-led government, has decided to lay a siege around the Vidhan Sabha on September 22 to seek revival of these projects. The leading regional party is also holding an indefinite dharna on the issue here.

In the Srinagar area where the government suspended Alaknanda hydel project, locals were up in arms against the decision. They were holding torch light processions and dharna during the past three days.

With Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank deciding to contest from Srinagar constituency in the next assembly elections, local Congress leaders also joined the issue to attack the BJP government.

A series of similar protests have also occurred various other areas of the hill state. The government has also come under scanner after it cancelled 56 small hydel projects in the wake of allegations of irregularities in the allotment process.

With the closure of these projects, Uttarakhand’s dreams of becoming an energy surplus state have virtually been dashed.

Top officials admitted that the government’s decision to shut down the projects has squeezed the investments in the hill state considerably. “When you are closing these projects, obviously it will send wrong signals outside the state,” said a top official of the

GVK company, which has already resented the decision to suspend its hydel project.

RLEK, a Dehra Dun-based NGO, has also threatened to move the court against the closure of these hydel projects.

“We need to complete these projects where the investments are very heavy. We will not allow the people’s money to go down the drain,” said Avadhash Kaushal, Chairperson of the RLEK.

Significantly, no major hydel project is expected to be commissioned in the next two years in the state where the demand of power is increasing by 15 per cent every year.