Environmentalists have said that the construction of the Pancheshwar dam will rub salt on the yet to heal wounds left by the construction of the Tehri dam.
Environmentalist and founder of Uttarakhand Nadi Bachao Abhiyan, Suresh Bhai said that the world was once again considering the options of mini and micro level hydro power projects after learning about the serious threat posed by the big dams on local civilisations and ecological system. “However, the reverse is being noticed in our country. In 1996 when people were opposing Tehri dam at local and national levels, BJP leaders including former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Murli Manohar Joshi, lK Advani and VHP’s Ashok Singhal had also echoed public sentiment by opposing a big dam like the one at Tehri though the then ruling party-Congress had ignored the public. Now, the BJP led NDA Government at the Centre has made a separate ministry to protect and rejuvenate the Ganga and other rivers which is a milestone in the parliamentary history of India. However, on the other hand, the Central Government is working with Nepal to get the large Pancheshwar dam on the Mahakali river. The consequences of this dam being constructed will be felt most by the people living in the border areas of India and Nepal,” he said.
It was claimed in the past that the Tehri dam would generate 2400 MW power. More than two lakh people were displaced from their ancestral land for construction of this dam but so far it has never produced 2400 MW power- even in peak monsoon season it has never generated more than 1000 MW, added the environmentalist.
“The proposed 315 metres high Pancheswar dam will take 13 years to be constructed and will entail the dislocation of more than three lakh persons living in 200 Indian and 70 Nepali villages. Almost everything has been decided by the top brass but unfortunately locals who will pay the price most don’t know anything about the project as was revealed in a study tour undertaken by renowned Gandhian and activist Radha Behen.
Environmental and other impacts of the dam ought to be discussed with the locals to reach a consensus on the proposed dam. Migration will be the biggest hurdle in construction of hydro power projects as in Uttarakhand alone, construction of the already proposed 558 dams will entail the dislocation of 30 lakh people,” he said.