River Bhagirathi is virtually being caged. Thanks to the construction of a series of mega hydel projects, a move strongly being resented by top seers and environmentalists alike.
On the completion of six hydel projects including NTPC’s 600MW Loharinagala, Bhagirathi will not be seen for a 100km-long stretch from upstream Tehri till Gangotri, its origin.
Except for holy towns like Uttarkashi and Harsil, Bhagirathi would now pass only through dark long tunnels of these hydel projects, experts said.
“If we want electricity, we have to tame our rivers even if it is the Bhagirathi,” said M C Joshi, Additional Secretary Power.
Mr Joshi also admitted that the river would rarely be seen from Gangotri to Tehri once all the major hydel projects are completed.
Besides Loharinag-Pala, other projects include Maneri Bhali Phase-II (304MW), Pala Maneri (480MW), Bhaironghati (300MW) and Jad Ganga (200MW), top officials said. The work on most of these projects have already began.
Seers like Badrinath Shankaracharya Swami Madhavashram have vehemently opposed the project.
“We are not against hydel projects. But Bhagirathi is not the only river in Uttarakhand where such projects can be constructed. There are many more,” said the Shankaracharya.
Caging a river
Swami Raghvendranand of famous Ishavasyam Ashram here has already started a campaign against the move to “cage” Bhagirathi.
A committee headed by Swami Raghvendranand has been formed in this regard.
“This isn’t a good thing. Under the garb of producing electricity, they are not only arresting Bhagirathi in long dark tunnels but also trying to wipe out the beautiful pine and deodar trees alongside it,” the seer said.
Expressing concern, top seers here also say that Bhagirathi will not be seen at Mukhba where deity Ganga is worshiped during winter, when Gangotri remains snowbound.
Dr Arun Agarwal, an environmentalist, has warned the government against the move, saying it would harm the rich bio-diversity of the Gangotri.