-The Hindu There is rock solid scientific evidence to demand the cancellation of many upcoming and approved Hydel Projects In normal circumstances, when a mistake is understood and suffered, one tends to learn from it and not repeat it. Unfortunately, this does not hold true in the case of the policy makers who are bent upon permitting projects and large-scale infrastructure in the already fragile and vulnerable Ganga-Himalayan basin. Recurrent disasters in...
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Landslides in Himachal Highlight Adverse Impact of Large Hydel Projects in the Himalayas -Bharat Dogra
-TheWire.in It has been proven time and again that large 'development' projects, involving the blasting of fragile hills and constraining the flow of rivers, cause huge loss of lives and livelihoods in the Himalayan region. Two big landslides in the Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh which made national headlines have re-emphasised the need for ecologically protective development in geologically fragile and vulnerable hills. On August 11, a massive landslide on National Highway 5,...
More »Why flooding raises alarm over bearing of hydropower plants on the Himalayas -Jasleen Bhatti
-Down to Earth The need of the hour is to put halt large hydel-power projects in the Himalayas. Can small hydropower plants offer a sustainable solution? Hydropower is a renewable and non-polluting source of energy. India has an economically exploitable and viable hydropower potential, which is estimated to be about 84,000 megawatt at 60 per cent load factor. It has an installed capacity of 148,701 MW, according to the National Hydroelectric Power...
More »Ban on new Hydel Projects in Uttarakhand: 2 yrs ago, PMO set tough green rules but Rawat saw red -Jay Mazoomdaar
-The Indian Express Uttarakhand CM sent letter to PM on jobs, energy security; SC awaits Govt unified stand. At least two power projects hit by the glacial flood burst in Uttarakhand last Sunday — in which over 150 workers are still feared missing or trapped — were in a list of 13 flagged at a meeting in the Prime Minister’s Office exactly two years ago. That meeting, records show, ordered a permanent ban...
More »Dam Workers Face Serious Hazards, Need Much Better Safety and Social Security -Bharat Dogra
-CounterCurrents.org The tragedy in Uttarakhand has again highlighted the extreme vulnerability of dam workers who toil often in very hazardous conditions in very remote parts of the country, away from public gaze. In particular the hazards faced by workers are very serious at several dam construction locations in the Himalayan region. While better safety conditions for dam workers are needed everywhere, this need is particularly acute in the Himalayan region. In recent...
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