SC favours relocation of Dhari devi temple in Uttarakhand

The Supreme Court today rejected the Centre's plea that Dhari devi temple, likely to be submerged by the Shrinagar Hydro-Electric project constructed along Alaknanda river in Uttarakhand, should not be relocated keeping in mind religious feelings.
"We are also not impressed by the argument that by accepting the suggestions of all the expert committees to raise the temple as such to a higher place, would wound the religious feelings of the devotes or violate the rights guaranteed under Article 25 of the Constitution.
"Sacred rock on which the temple exits is still kept intact and only the height of the temple increased so that the temple would not be submerged in the water. We are of the view that none of the rights of the devotees of Dhari Devi temple has been affected by raising the level of the temple, which remains attached to the sacred rock," the bench of justices K S Radhakrishnan and Dipak Misra said.

The observations came in a verdict by which the apex court prohibited setting up of any new hydroelectric power project in Uttarakhand and asked the Centre to constitute an expert body to study environmental degradation caused by such projects.
Dealing with the relocation of the temple, the court, in its judgement, relied on various reports including the final report of B K Chaturvedi Committee.
"We find no reason to differ from the views expressed by the expert committee, which was submitted hearing all the affected parties, including the Trustees of the Temple, devotees, Pujaris etc. Committee reports to that extent stand accepted," it said.