NEW DELHI: The Narendra Modi government has been talking of saving Ganga but 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 river, 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 keeping in mind the urgency to protect the river. These projects, approved prior to the 2012 notification, were stopped and denied permission by environment ministry on the grounds that these will destroy the ecosystem of the river. Uttarakhand has repeatedly approached the Centre to allow the projects as it is causing loses to the state.
“The MoEF&CC could consider inserting a transitional clause to permit the 10 HEPs less than 25MW capacity of a total combined capacity of 82.3MW which were approved prior to the date of Notification,” said the minutes of meeting.
The expert committee meeting chaired by Amita Prasad, Additional Secretary, MoEFCC also suggested that River Bed Mining up to a depth of 2 meters could be allowed as it may not affect the ecology as river beds 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 the river Bhagirathi and all its tributaries from Gaumukh to Uttarkashi except micro or mini hydel power projects required for generating power for local residents.” It also restricts “all types of mining, stone quarrying and crushing except for the domestic needs of bona fide locals.”