Foreign funded NGOs with vested interests spared not a minute to malign the proposed and ongoing Hydel Power Projects in Uttarakhand as the main reason behind the natural tragedy that struck the energy strapped State on June 16-17, 2013.
Misled by unscientific propaganda spread by these people with vested interests, Jayanthi Natarajan, the then Minister of Environment and Forests not only stalled the Hydro Electric Power Projects of Uttarakhand, but also notified a large area, from Gaumukh to Uttarkashi, as eco-sensitive zone, resulting in non-construction of roads close to China border and other developmental works. RlEK Chairperson Avadhash Kaushal alleged by issuing a press note on Friday.
Natarajan even appointed same people with non-scientific approach as members and Chairman of the high power committee to assess the reasons behind the natural calamity and also as members of the monitoring committee to monitor the eco-sensitive zone. Senior scientists of Central Water Commission, Ganga Flood Control Commission, India Metrological Department and Wadia Institute have clearly attributed the calamity to high discharges in the snow-fed rivers in the region due to high melting rate of glacier during the period and unprecedented early, prolonged and heavy to very heavy rainfall in the catchment.
Scientists also pointed out, "The banks in the region are generally having very steep slope (almost vertical in some of the reaches). In some of the reaches the same is composed of conglomerate, which is highly susceptible to erosion. The high discharge in the rivers resulted in very high velocity causing erosion at the toe of the bank and subsequently slope failure of bank engulfing the roads/ building constructed near to the bank." Scientists added, "It was due to the existence of large storage in the Tehri Dam that was helpful in absorbing a substantial amount of flow in the Bhagirathi river.
The flood situation in the reach downstream of Devprayag could have been further worsened in absence of the Tehri Dam. The highest observed discharge in river Ganga at Haridwar was about 5.25 lakh cusec during the current episode. This could have been more than 6.5 lakh cusecs in the absence of the Tehri Dam." One of the measures Scientist Committee suggested, "For the losses to remain at minimum in the region, large dams should be constructed, wherever feasible, on Alaknanda/ Mandakini/ Pindar headstream of the Ganga river system. These storages could be operated in a manner to provide opportunity for absorption of flood in unfavourable condition. Possibility of storage dams on tributaries may also be explored."
Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology have also in their preliminary technical report on Kedarnath valley devastation given the observations that torrential rains caused vast floods in Mandakini, Saraswati, Madhu and Dudh Ganga catchments, resulting in excessive flows across all the channels. Very active erosion began due to this excess flow in all gulleys/ streams causing excessive water and sediment accumulation in the rivers. On 17th June 2013 the moraine dammed Chorabari lake was breached due to the impact of huge glacial avalanche trigged on the western slope of the lake and released large volumes of water that caused another flash flood in Kedarnath town leading to heavy devastation downstream.
The main reason for the devastation was torrential rains which activated a number of new landslides and breach of moraine, dammed Chorabari lake due to huge glacier avalanche. Thus, it becomes clear that the Hydro Electric Projects, which are being portrayed as responsible for the natural calamity are not the reason behind the natural disaster. Wadia Institute also does not mention any damage due to construction of hydroelectric projects.
"People held Maj Gen BC Khanduri responsible for the closure of Hydel Power Projects and the result was that all the five seats were lost by BJP, and this should send a signal to the ruling party i.e. Congress, with election round the corner, to decide on the fate of Hydel Power Projects." says Padamshri Avadhash Kaushal, chairperson of RlEK. Even the cabinet committee headed by Pranab Mukherjee as Finance Minister recommended, "lohari Nagpala Hydro Project should immediately be started."
Pranab Mukherjee was also ignored due to vested interests supported by Jairam Ramesh, the then Minister of Environment and Forests. "These wrong decisions of Jairam Ramesh and Mrs Natarajan are the cause of slow GDP and suffering to the common people," adds Kaushal.