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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Jairam to inspect Renuka Dam site

Jairam to inspect Renuka Dam site

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published Published on Mar 28, 2011   modified Modified on Mar 28, 2011
His ministry had earlier put a stop on the project citing ecological damage

Delhi Govt. insisted that only the dam can solve Capital's water woes

Union Environment and Forests Minister Jairam Ramesh on Sunday said he will undertake an inspection of the Nahan Valley in Himachal Pradesh, the site of the proposed Renuka Dam, which has been turned down by his office on the grounds that it involves the axing of 1.77 lakh trees.

Mr. Ramesh, who had earlier put a stop to the dam's construction on the grounds that a significantly large number of trees will be felled for the purpose, has been forced to reconsider his stance after Delhi Government's vehement assertion that the dam is the “only solution” to the Capital's water problems.

“I will personally go to the Nahan Valley to inspect. The Delhi Government is convinced that of the 1.77 lakh trees only 9,000 are full grown trees and the rest are shrubs. So I will go with the officials concerned and assess the situation for myself,” Mr. Ramesh said.

The dam, which has already got the environment clearance, has been stalled following concerns over the felling of trees and the displacement of local people. The dam on the Giri river will offer a storage capacity of 542 million cubic metres of water and an installed power capacity of 40 MW. While Delhi will get 275 MGD of water from the dam, Himachal Pradesh will have claim to the power.

On Sunday, the Minister said Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and the Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister had both pressed for reconsidering the decision to stop the dam's construction. “Ms. Diskhit has been vehement that the dam is the only solution to the city's long-term water security and even the Himachal Pradesh Government wants it,” he said.

The Minister's willingness to reconsider the dam's approval, however, came with a caveat. “While I will inspect the dam site, I have also suggested to the Delhi Chief Minister to undertake large-scale rainwater harvesting in the Yamuna and ensure that the wastage of water on account of technical losses (30 per cent), theft and free distribution (20 per cent) which together is about 50 per cent is rectified,” Mr. Ramesh said.

Harvesting systems

He said the absence of water harvesting systems have led to the wastage of rainwater that could otherwise have been used to recharge groundwater levels.

The Minister also came to the city's rescue by agreeing to put in a word with the Union Water Resources Ministry to allow the construction of a barrage at Palla, as proposed by the Delhi Government.

“I understand that a proposal has been submitted for construction of a barrage at Palla. The project will require Delhi and Uttar Pradesh to work in collaboration and the Ministry of Water Resources will be required to take it forward,” he said.

The proposed barrage to be built by Delhi will have a capacity to hold water for at least three months and will store excess water that is released during the monsoon.

The Minister said the absence of storage for rainwater is an issue that needs to be addressed. “What happened in 2010 was a missed opportunity…there was so much rain and the excess water could not be stored anywhere. This should not happen; there should be more intense rain water harvesting and storage. This is something that the Delhi Government can do to.”

The Hindu, 28 March, 2011, http://www.hindu.com/2011/03/28/stories/2011032859480400.htm


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