NEW DELHI: The Narendra Modi government has been talking of saving the Ganga but the Ministry of Environment and Forests is considering dilution of a 2012 notification that restricted mining and hydropower projects on the pristine river stretch of Bhagirathi, a tributary of Ganga, from Gaumukh to Uttarkashi in Uttarakhand.
The Environment Ministry is considering permitting 10 hydroelectric projects of a total combined capacity of 82.3 MW which were stopped under the notification four years back, considering the urgency to protect the river. These projects, approved prior to the 2012 notification, were stopped and denied permission by the ministry on the ground that these will destroy the ecosystem of the river. Uttarakhand has repeatedly approached the Centre to allow the projects as it is causing losses to the State. “The MoEF&CC could consider inserting a transitional clause to permit the 10 HEPs less than 25 MW capacity of a total combined capacity of 82.3 MW which were approved prior to the date of notification,” said the minutes of the expert committee meeting chaired by Amita Prasad, additional secretary, MoEF&CC.
The committee also suggested that River Bed Mining up to a depth of 2 m could be allowed as it may not affect the ecology as riverbeds change dynamically. This was also prohibited under the notification. The notification issued on December 18, 2012, restricts “setting up of new hydro-electric power plants (dams, tunneling, and construction of reservoir) and expansion of existing plants on Bhagirathi and all its tributaries from Gaumukh to Uttarkashi except micro or mini hydel power projects required for generating power for local residents”.