The Vishnugad Pipalkoti Hydro Electric Project (VPHEP) on the Alaknanda River in Uttarakhand is currently under inspection by the World Bank due to concerns of environmental damage. The request for an enquiry was initiated following complaints from 83 local communities who fear for their cultural heritage and livelihood.
Geography of Alaknanda River
The Alaknanda River is significant as one of the headstreams of the Ganga River. Originating from the confluence of the Satopanth and Bhagirath glaciers in Uttarakhand, it travels to meet the Bhagirathi River at Devprayag where they unite to form the Ganga River. The river system journeys through parts of the Chamoli, Tehri, and Pauri districts, with main tributaries including the Mandakini, Nandakini, and Pindar rivers. Significantly, the Hindu pilgrimage center of Badrinath and the Lake Satopanth lie along the banks of the Alaknanda River.
Panch Prayag: Sites of Confluence
Five sites, known as Panch Prayag, mark the merger of five rivers into the Alaknanda to create the holy River Ganga. The rivers include Dhauliganga, Nandakini, Pindar, and Bhagirathi, which confluence at locations namely Vishnuprayag, Nandaprayag, Karnaprayag, Rudraprayag, and Devprayag respectively.
Local Complaints
The VPHEP has evoked several objections from the local community. A primary concern centers around the threat to the ancient Laxmi Narayan Temple in Haat village, a critical cultural resource that provides livelihood for the locals. Residents claim that muck-dumping from the dam construction endangers the temple architecture. Also, allegations of residents being forcefully displaced have surfaced, with some reports indicating that locals who refused to accept compensation were evicted or detained by police. The project’s seeming lack of regard for climate change implications and extreme weather events has also sparked concerns among locals.
About VPHEP
The VPHEP is a 444-MW hydroelectric project led by the Tehri Hydropower Development Corporation, a partially Centre-owned enterprise, with funding primarily from the World Bank. Launched in 2011, the project, estimated to cost USD 922 million, aims to be completed by 30th June 2023. It involves constructing a 65-meter diversion dam near Helang village in Chamoli district on the Alaknanda River.
Hydro Power Projects in Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand hosts several hydropower projects, including Tehri Stage 2 (1000 MW) on the Bhagirathi River, Tapovan Vishnugadh (520 MW) on the Dhauliganga River, Singoli Bhatwari (99 MW) and Phata Bhuyang (76 MW) both on the Mandakini River, along with others like Madhyamaheshwar and Kaliganga 2 on various rivers.
Challenges to Hydropower Projects in Himalayas
Projects in the Himalayas face numerous challenges such as glacier retreat, permafrost thaw, which can destabilize mountain slopes and lead to increased glacier lakes, and increased instances of natural calamities like cloudbursts, avalanches, and rainfall due to climate change. This not only poses risks to the projects but also places the resident population at higher risk of loss of lives and livelihood.
Recommendations for the Way Forward
Recommendations have been put forth to restrict hydropower development beyond an elevation of 2,200 meters in the Himalayan region. The government should prioritize sustainable economic growth through eco-friendly hydro power development that balances industrial growth, population increase, and infrastructure requirements.
The article concludes with previously asked questions from the UPSC Civil Services Examination regarding the location of the Tehri Hydropower Complex and the Tapovan and Vishnugarh Hydroelectric Projects.
