Four months after disaster wreaked havoc in Uttarahkand and severely damaged the barrage of the Vishnuprayag hydro electric project, activists have alleged that the Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd which is implementing this project, is dumping debris from the reservoir into the Alaknanda River.
The activists have said that such dumping of debris in the river is illegal and damaging the ecologically sensitive region. According to Vimal Bhai and Dinesh Panwar of Matu Jansangathan, on June 16-17 the failure of the Vishnuprayag HEP employees to close the sluice gates of the barrage on time exacerbated the flood which caused major devastation in lambagad, Pandukeshwar, Govindghat, Vinayak Chatty, Pinola Ghat and areas downstream. The destruction in these villages was caused by the Vishnugad HEP on Alaknanda, they alleged.
“Agitations are going on for the restoration of the villages and for the proper/full compensation of the losses due to the calamity which was exacerbated because the barrage gates were not opened on time despite heavy rain. Four months have passed, but no inquiry has been set-up by any ministry and the situation is getting worse. The company is removing all the muck/debris from the dam reservoir and dumping it in the Alaknanda riverbed.
“These actions will create the conditions for another disaster. Thus, dumping muck in the river is a criminal activity for environment and sensitive ecology of the area. The act of dumping also puts villagers’ lives in danger. A flood in the same river downstream of this dam on June 16-17 was exacerbated due to debris dumped on the river bank. That flood had damaged hundreds of private and government buildings,” said Vimal Bhai.
He said that the Ministry of Environment and Forests should act without delay and stop the project proponents from dumping debris in the Alaknanda. This will prevent future calamities in this river, he added.