Representatives of various organisations in Uttarakhand have written to the Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, eliciting action for ensuring action regarding the problems faced by the Tehri Dam affected people in Uttarakhand considering the fact that a considerable proportion of water supplied to Delhi is from here. They have also sought action to ensure proper water supply to the poor in Delhi.
Representatives of Matu Jansangathan, Nagrik Manch, New Tehri and Bhoomidhar Visthapit Sangathan have pointed out in the letter to the Delhi CM that a large part of Delhi's water supply comes from Tehri Hydro Electric Project reservoir built on the Bhagirathi in Uttarakhand.
This has resulted in cheap and high quantity of water supply for the people residing in Delhi, but the problems faced by the people displaced due to construction of Tehri dam should also be noted. They state in the letter, "The displacement initiatives that have been in process for more than 30 years now have still not been able to provide basic health, education, property rights, transport, ration shops, roads, sewage system and livelihood facilities for the around 40 villages that were displaced during the construction of the dam.
All of this was promised as a part of rehabilitation policy at the time of displacement but has still not been provided to all of the displaced.
There are schools but no teachers, health facilities are negligible, and there is almost no development of basic infrastructure like roads, sewage etc. Nearly 80 villages around the Tehri Dam reservoir are facing enormous problem from landslides, soil erosion and sinking.
Movements for clean and appropriate water supply are going on under the leadership of Nagrik Manch, New Tehri and Bhoomidhar Visthapit Sangathan with the authorities remaining apathetic despite several rallies, relay and indefinite hunger strikes being held.
The rehabilitation policy is yet to be finalised due to the tussle between Uttarakhand Government of Uttarakhand and Tehri Dam proponent Tehri Hydro Electric Development Corporation. This issue is still to be decided by the Supreme Court in the matter of ND Juyal and Shekhar Singh vs Government of India. Environment clearance (EC) granted to Tehri Dam HEP dated 19-7-1990 is not followed till date.
There are severe environmental problems arising from the Tehri dam construction leading to soil erosion, loss of aquatic life, loss of forests, etc. which cannot be ignored," state the organisations' representatives in the letter.
They have further pointed out that the Delhi Government had signed MoUs with Uttarakhand Government for developing dams like lakhwar HEP and Kisau HEP which should not be proceeded further, keeping in mind the real costs of such projects and its consequences, which can be seen in the Tehri Dam issue.
The rights of Delhi people's right to cheap, abundant water supply are on one side while the right to life and livelihood of the people displaced by the dams constructed for this purpose are on the other.
"We feel Delhi Government is also responsible for the aforementioned victimisation and should protect the environment of that area. Few years back Tehri dam affected people had met the then Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit for her intervention to speed up the rehabilitation process, but nothing has been done till date.
“We request you to support Tehri dam affected people for their proper rehabilitation, review the MoU of Renuka HEP, Himachal Pradesh; lakhwar HEP and Kisau HEP, Uttarakhand in reference of Delhi's water needs and the environment and apathy towards displaced people.
We hope to meet you to discuss these issues and look for some alternative to the development or include the voice and needs of the marginalised in the with development process," state the representatives in the letter to Kejriwal.