Uttarakhand against big hydro projects

Citing Chief Minister B C Khanduri, an official spokesman said the government would permit the construction of only run-of-the-river projects and that it was against the Tehri-type dams.

Agrawal (76), who lives a Gandhian life in Chitrakoot, will begin his fast unto death from tomorrow at the hilly township of Uttarkashi to protest against a series of hydel projects being constructed on the holy Bhagirathi river.

To lend support to Agrawal, top environmentalists and social activists like Rajendra Singh, Govindacharya, Sunita Narayan, Vandana Shiva, and M C Mehta are also likely to join him.

Agrawal, who has chosen "Ganga Dussehra" as the day for beginning his fast, is of the view that the Bhagirathi will lose its identity once the Uttarkhand government constructs a series of hydel projects on it.

Agrawal's move came in the wake of a series of protests by local people, who are on the verge of being uprooted at several places following the construction of these dams.

The dams include Pala Maneri (480 Mw), Maneri Bhali Phase-11 (304 Mw), Lohari Nagpala (600 Mw), Koteshwar (400 Mw), Bhairon Ghati (381Mw) and Jad Ganga (200 Mw).

A large number of people living on the hills of Uttarakhand are paying a heavy price in the name of power generation. During the past four-five months, they have undertaken marches and held rallies to voice their protest fearing they will become homeless. Apart from this, there are environmental concerns also.

Meanwhile, police security has been tightened in Uttarkashi town, where Agrawal will protest.

Significantly, nearly 20 women activists yesterday courted arrest after they showed black flags to Khanduri, who had gone to Uttarakhashi to kick-start the civil work of the Pala Maneri hydel project, being built by the Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd, a state government enterprise.