An Uttarakhand based NGO today demanded immediate resumption of
stalled hydel power projects in the state to overcome scarcity of power.
The NGO also alleged that majority of the members of the National
Ganga River Basin Authority are anti-development and it should either be
scrapped or reconstituted.
In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Rural Litigation and
Entitlement Kendra (RLEC), a local NGO, said those hydro power projects
in the state which have been stalled mid-way despite getting environment
clearance and meeting other mandatory requirements, like clearance of
DPR, should be restarted immediately.
Citing the example of the 330 mw Alaknanda hydel power project which,
according to the NGO, was stalled for alleged violation of environmental
regulations, the letter said work on it should be started without
further delay by shifting the ancient Dhari Devi temple in the project
area elsewhere.
The NGO also demanded constitution of state Ganga River Basin
Authority on the lines of National Ganga River Basin Authority keeping
in mind the country's federal structure and said the state governments
should be vested with the powers to monitor the progress of the projects
and take all decisions pertaining to them.
It also demanded resumption of the 600 mw Loharinagpala and 480 mw
Pala Maneri hydel power projects honouring the spirit of the High Court
order in this regard and the recommendations of the Group of Ministers.
Pala Maneri hydel power project was stalled mid way by the then BJP
government headed by B C Khanduri in 2008 after a dharna-cum-fast staged
by environmentalist G D Agrawal.
Later coming under pressure, the Congress government at the Centre
had also announced closure of the Loharinagpala hydro electricity
project in Uttarakhand.
BS
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