Environ Ministry asks power project to leave aside religious structure

In its order today, the Ministry also directed Alakananda Hydro Power Corporation Limited (AHPCL) that "the muck slope at the edge of the river shall be adequately protected by retaining the wall of at least 1-2m height to be 1m above HFL corresponding to a flood of 2500 to 3000 m3/sec in the river".

Earlier this month, the Environment Ministry had issued a stop-work order on dam construction for generating 330 MW projecton on river Alakananda after former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Uma Bharti's fast demanding withdrawal of the proposal of shifting the temple at Srinagar Garhwal due to construction of the power project.

"To preserve the religious sanctity and character of the Dhari Devi Temple, a modified plan will be prepared in collaboration with INTACH (Indian National Trust For Art and Cultural Heritage), a conservation architect, the local temple samiti and the representative of the Geological Survey of India," the Ministry said. The plan should examine how part of the rock on which the platform of the deity has been constructed, along with the rock that formed its backdrop, shall be mounted at an elevation in such a way that it maintains contact with the base rock from which it is raised, the Ministry said.

The Ministry also ordered that no further construction other than safety and electricity work upto 200 MW should be undertaken on the project site.