The ownership and management of the Tehri hydro electricity project and other hydro power projects in Uttarakhand should be handed over to the State Government. This demand has been raised by the Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee president Kishore Upadhyay in a letter written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In his letter, the PCC chief has stated that 600 lakh persons are directly sustained by the Ganga and other rivers originating in Uttarakhand in addition to environmental services for the nation. Pointing out the State’s importance from the view points of religious importance, environmental value and strategic importance, Upadhyay said that it is not just the State Government that is responsible as the Central Government is also equally responsible for ensuring the welfare of Uttarakhand and its people. He goes on to write, “It causes me to considerable mental discomfort to see the manner in which the Central Government under your leadership is treating Uttarakhand. This is also causing considerable anxiety among the people of Uttarakhand.
The main resources of the State are its water, forests and land which are also the major sources of revenue for the State. What is needed at present is that the ownership and management of the Tehri hydro power project be handed over to the Uttarakhand government so that the State can undertake management of electricity and water according to its requirements,” writes Upadhyay to the PM. The PCC chief has also expressed the expectation that the the Government of India will reach a proactive decision on the demands of the State’s people and initiate the procedure for handing over the ownership and management of hydro power projects located in Uttarakhand to the State Government. The PCC chief has also submitted to the chief minister Harish Rawat, a copy of his letter to the prime minister. In the copy sent to the chief minister, Upadhyay has requested Rawat to facilitate submission of a proposal on this issue to the Central Government.