Document showing adverse impact of Srinagar Hydel Project released

DEHRADUN: The “Raksha Sutra, Nadi Bachao Andolan, Uttarkashi Team”, today, presented a research document on the adverse impact of the Srinagar Hydro Power project. The report was presented by poet Dr Atul Sharma, HNB Garhwal University Social Study Department Head JP Pachauri and Journalist Prem Pancholi.
They informed media, here, that Uttarakhand was being presented as the Power State. This was however just a political statement, because whereever Hydro Power Projects were under construction for power generation, the livelihood of the people had not only ended, but their homes had also been destroyed. According to research, out of 233 families, 23 families had lost their hundred percent of their lands, 60 families about 60-85% land, and 68 families 50% of their land.
Pachori said that they had visited various areas where these projects were being carried out and some 8000 families around River Alaknanda were affected. The people were promised employment, but that would be only temporary. Eventually, they would not only lose their jobs, but their homes as well. “The people are being deceived in the name of employment. Agricultural land is being encroached upon. The funds that are being released for the projects are not being fully utilised and the government is turning a blind eye towards it. The money is going into the hands of contractors, bribe-takers and politicians,” Pachori asserted.
He further said that the projects were all tunnel based and since these areas were earthquake prone, it was difficult to justify the construction of these dams. There needed to be alternate projects such as the wind powered projects in Gujarat. Even in the Tehri Dam, there were 4 turbines but only one was being used, because there was no water. These projects also needed to be made on a smaller and localised basis so that, at least, the local areas could be made self-sufficient in electricity generation.