680 dams on river Ganga, tributaries ?

The Asian Age: New Delhi: Thursday, May 31, 2012.

Does the ministry of water resources plans to construct 680 big and small dams on the Ganga and its tributaries?

An RTI filed by water activist Bharat Jhunjhunwala in 2010 revealed that the Uttarakhand government planned to construct 557 dams across the Ganga and its tributaries. The website of the Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd (UJVNL) reveals plans to construct another 290 dams. While going through these two lists, Dr Ravi Chopra, director of the Dehra Dun-based People’s Science Institute, said, “One hundred and thirteen dams were common in both lists while another 117 dams that were in the pipeline had not been listed in the RTI.”

“A case filed by water activists in Uttarkhand against the construction of so many dams saw the cancellation in the construction of 56 dams which leaves us with the figure of 680,” said Dr Chopra, currently leading a crusade against this massive construction of dams in the Ganga basin.

However, Central Water Commission chairman R.C. Jha disputes the figure of 680 dams. “They ( activists) must be referring to smaller reservoirs and run-of-the-river projects which are being constructed in the Ganga basin. But I can confidently state that no new irrigation projects have been proposed,” said Mr Jha. Dam expert Himanshu Thakkar of the South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People maintains, “It is unfortunate that there is no nodal agency coordinating the construction of so many dams.” He added that `3.31 lakh crores has been earmarked for irrigation by the ministry of water resources for the 12th Five Year Plan and “I for one believe there is a strong lobby, both in the PMO and the Central government, which is pushing for dams even though they are opposed by local population”.

Minister of state in the PMO V. Narayanasamy has vehemently denied these charges stating, “The PMO’s involvement is limited to ensuring that the Ganga river enjoys an uninterrupted flow. This 600 plus figure is absolutely wrong. Eleven dams are under construction and three have been completed so far,” said Narayanasamy.

But Magasasay awardee Rajendra Singh, who visits Uttarakhand frequently, has a different take on this. “Thirty nine new dams have been proposed on the Alaknanda, Bhagirathi and the Mandakini while work is in progress in eight dams. Another nine dams have already been completed on these tributaries of the Ganga,” said Mr Singh..’’