Most Ganga projects don’t have clearance

Mar 27, 2012 - Rashme Sehgal |

Age Correspondent

New Delhi

Most of hydroelectric power projects in the Ganga’s Alaknanda and Bhagirathi river basins have come up in the teeth of public opposition with even water experts from IIT Roorkee having warned that even the minimum water flow in the Ganges had been adversely affected with their construction.

It was keeping this in mind that the former environment minister, Mr Jairam Ramesh, had issued a stop work order on the Srinagar project on June 30, 2011. The order has not been withdrawn even though work on the hydro-project is continuing till date.
Most of these hydro-projects are already steeped in controversy with local activists highlighting how work on these projects has kickstarted without their receiving the requisite environmental clearances.
MoEF’s expert appraisal committee examined environmental violations in Phata-Byung and Singoli-Bhatai projects on the Mandakini had twice recommended work be halted due to green violations.

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