Experts demand immediate review of ongoing hydro projects in eco-sensitive Himalayan zone

Environmental experts and activists demand an immediate review of hydroelectric projects in the Ganga river basin due to severe ecological vulnerabilities and potential harm.

Environmental experts and activists on Thursday demanded an immediate review of all ongoing hydroelectric projects in the upper reaches of the Ganga river basin due to severe ecological vulnerabilities.

The demand follows a recent central government submission to the Supreme Court, stating that no new hydro projects should be allowed in the upper reaches of the Ganga basin, except for seven specific projects in the Alaknanda and Bhagirathi river basins, subject to strict environmental safeguards.

These seven projects include four already commissioned ventures and three under-construction facilities.

The commissioned projects are the 1,000 MW Tehri Stage-II, 4.5 MW Kaliganga-II, 99 MW Signoli Bhatwari and 15 MW Madhmaheshwar. The remaining three projects are the 520 MW Tapovan Vishnugad, 444 MW Vishnugad Pipalkoti and 76 MW Phata Byung.

The Centre claimed these three projects are in advanced stages of construction.

The submissions were made in the ongoing legal proceedings related to hydropower projects in the upper reaches of the Ganga initiated after the devastating 2013 Kedarnath floods.

Former Supreme Court-appointed committee chairman Ravi Chopra told PTI that the Centre had already decided on these seven projects in August 2021.

Chopra added that four of these projects, including Kaliganga-II and Singoli Bhatwari, are functional, while three remain incomplete.

He questioned the government's claim regarding the under-construction status of the Phata Byung project, saying that the previous structure was ''completely washed away by floods''.

The project was recently sold to the Bhilwara Group in December 2025, and actual dam construction has not yet resumed, he added.

The expert noted that these projects sit within the 'Main Central Thrust' zone and face severe threats from active seismic faults and glacial hazards.

The Vishnugad Pipalkoti project stands right on the border of this highly sensitive zone, Chopra added.

Chipko Movement leader and Gandhi Peace Award recipient Chandi Prasad Bhatt welcomed the restrictions on new projects, but insisted on reviewing under-construction sites.

Bhatt cited NTPC's 525 MW Tapovan Vishnugad project as a prime example of structural delay, noting it remains incomplete after two decades of work.

Speaking to PTI, Bhatt emphasised that ignoring the fragile Himalayan geography leads to routine disasters, recalling the February 2021 accident at the Tapovan site that killed over 200 people.

''Climate change is shrinking these water sources, and the impact of reduced water inflow on power generation must be evaluated,'' Bhatt added.