Yamuna hydel projects face hurdles

With the Ganga basin hydel projects failing to make headway owing to stiff opposition by environmentalists and religious leaders, a couple of key projects in Uttarakhand on Yamuna and tributaries are also facing hurdles.

The ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) has raised fresh queries on the second stage of clearances on the 120-Mw Vyasi project and on the 300-Mw multi-purpose Lakhwar project. "The MoEF has raised fresh doubts on the two projects due to which the work has not begun," said a government official.

On the other hand, the Centre has involved Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh in the proposed talks on the multipurpose 600-Mw Kishau project this month at New Delhi.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna, who also holds the power portfolio, is upset over the slow pace of development in the power sector, which has taken a beating over the past few years on religious and environmental concerns. "We are making all-out efforts to revive Yamuna projects, but the progress is very slow," said the official.

Last year, the Vyasi project got techno-economic clearance from the Central Electricity Authority (CEA). But, despite the chief minister's assertion that work will begin soon, the project made no headway.

"With all the clearances, we were hoping to resume the remaining 60-70 per cent of the work of the project, hanging fire for the past two decades due to paucity of funds. But till now, no work has started," said an official of the Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam (UJVN), the implementing agency.

Similarly, the 300-Mw Lakhwar project is also facing hurdles related to rehabilitation and forest clearances.

A few years ago, the 420-Mw Lakhwar-Vyasi project was bifurcated by the state government into 120-Mw Vyasi and 300-Mw Lakhwar. The Lakhwar-Vyasi project, which began three-four decades ago, was abandoned in the 1990s due to paucity of funds in the undivided Uttar Pradesh.

The fate of another multi-purpose 600-Mw Kishau project was not known despite a recent meeting of the chief secretaries of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. According to sources, the Centre has convened a meeting of the two sides and also other riparian states like Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to resolve the issues pertaining to the dam on May 17 and 27 at New Delhi. The project would also provide irrigation and drinking water to nearby states, in addition to generating 600 Mw.