Uttarakhand:Environmetalist to target The Central Government Now

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Uttarakhand:Govt.Suspends Two Hydel Projects on Ganges due to Environmentalist Pressure

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Latest News;Delhi

Prof. G.D. Aggarwal leading environmentalist who has taken up the cause of saving Ganges from the rampant construction of Hydel Projects on the river By the State and the central government arrived at  New Delhi to renew his fast unto death targeting the Congress Party led government in the centre.

Prof. stated that construction of tunnels for the purpose of dams is disatrous for the environment of the region.

 Meanwhile at HaridwarThe Hindu seer Baba Ramdev  famous Yoga Guru extended his support to the efforts of the Pof.G.D.Aggarwal and said that Instead of sacrificing Ganges River for the purpose of Energy it was better to sign the Nuclear deal with U.S.A for cleaner source of Energy.

He further stated that Yoga Camps will be organized for the awareness on the issue along the banks of Ganges from Gangotri to Ganga Sagar the full length of the Ganges river.

Ganga should be left free flowing.

the fertile plains of the ganges basin are getting affected by the accumulation of silt at the dam sites thus affecting the farmers.

Earlier:

June 22 Uttarkashi

Environmentalists led by Prof G.D.Aggarwal are savoring their victory as the government of Uttarakhand announced the closure of two Projects until further notice.

The Environmentalists are upbeat at this development and now are vowing to lead the tirade against the Congress led U.P.A Government in the centre.G.D.Aggarwal reiterated that the “Save Ganga Campaign” now would shift to New Delhi.

The Congress party that was supporting the Professor till he was leading an agitation against thee B.J.P led Government in the state is alarmed on his fresh statement.

The Congress party workers led a mob to the Professor’s location where he is sitting on Hunger Strike. The congress party workers led by local Congress M.L.A are furious at the closure of the projects.

They now blame the Professor for the closure of the projects resulting in unemployment in the region.

The congress workers shouted slogans against the Environmentalists and the professor at his Sit in location at Manikarna ghat.

The situation became tense due to small skirmishes between the Congress workers and the Save Ganga Agitators. Sensing the danger of violent protests administration shifted Professor to the local Guest House thus avoiding any untoward incident .

The Congress in the state is also furious at the involvement and support to the professor by the Saffron Brigade and Hindu Activists.

 The announcement by the Professor that he will now take the agitation to Central Government and force the central government to stop all the hydel projects funded by the central government. Further more the contractors of the projects, shut down by the state govt. are closely related to the Congress party as the previous Congress Government granted them these contracts.

They are the only people who are making noise against the environmentalists Meanwhile the villagers affected by these dams can heave a sigh of relief for sometime, as their villages will remain above water for the moment.

Professor G.D.Aggarwal said that his fight is against the corrupt system and not the governments whether they be in state or centre. He is adamant on his tirade for the Free flowing Ganges.

 He also added that corrupt officials and contractors are the one against his campaign and he will vehemently oppose their every move to thwart his agitation

Earlier:

Uttarakhand:Govt.Suspends Two Hydel Projects on Ganges due to Environmentalist Pressure

June 19th

In  a New Development The Chief Minister Of The Himalayan State Major General Retd. Mr. B.C.Khanduri today announced that the two Hydel Projects Pala Maneri and Bhairogahti project will be suspended till further notice.

This decision comes in the wake of agitation by the environmentalists and some hindu activists.

 Pof G.D Agarwal was on Fast unto death at Uttarkashi on this issue from last few days.This is a sort of  small victory for environmentalists.

Prof.G.D.Agarwal is of the view that the Ganges river Should flow free without any interruption of the hydel projects,which is very important for  saving the environment.

The Ganges river starts from Gaumukh in Uttarakhand and ends its journey in Ganga Sagar Calcutta in West Bengal.

Earlier Prof Agarwal had stated to media his intention behind the fast unto death protest on River Ganga projects.

To Quote in Prof.G.D. Agarwals words

"As you are aware, R. Bhagirathi Ganga has a very special place in Indian culture, thought and tradition. In the past few years, however, the continuity, quantity, quality and regime of flows is being disrupted for generation of hydro-electricity like all other rivers. Already in the reach downstream of Maneri, long stretches of Bhagirathi remain water less for long periods. In near future this may become the state of the entire river. As a serious student of environment sciences and as a faithful Hindu, this is hard for me to swallow. I strongly believe that at least Bhagirathi upstream of Uttarkashi should be spared of any works that disturb its natural flow-regime, ecology, purity or piety and, after brooding over it for several months, I have decided to oppose such works with all the might I have."

for full text go to

 http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2008/a_man_a_river_a_government.html

The Chief Minister Earlier reiterated That Environment and Development both are important to the state and they should compliment each other.

Uttarakhand is fast emerging as an energy Hub for the country with many more small and big Hydel Projects on the pipeline,Which will become major source of revenue earning for the state.

Opinion

In my view the story is little different

The ongoing Hydel Projects are the result of  faulty and corrupt policies of the Buerocrats and Politicians alike.The Officials are fond of these Big Projects because the scope of Corruption is Immense as their is no transparency in their execution.

The projects like Pala Maneri were given green signal during the congress regime.

The phase 1 project was marred with corruption charges and and low quality turbines purchased from the private companies.

With the B.J.P Government coming in power the pressure to complete the project on time increased which the officials could not resist.Thus Environmentalist were involved to stop these Projects as the officials saw that the scope of Corruption was limited, in the present  regime.Why Prof G.D.Agarwal did not begin his protest during congress regime at the very inception of the projects itself is a big question?.Also their are many other congress ruled states where similiar projects are being undertaken but he does not talks about them.

 It is important to note that Irrigation Minister and the Officials of Pala Manri Dam were at Loggerheads with each other and  there was some bad blood among two parties on purchase of some equipments and construction material used in the construction of the Pala Maneri Phase 1 project earlier this year,which Led to suspension of few official by the minister concerned.

Todays fallout may be the cause of these early skirmishes between corrupt officials and the ministry.

Their are many other ways to harness the water of Uttarakhand which are more cheaper and inclusif in nature.

The traditional Method Which Is known as "Gharat"  or Water Mills in which the local granaries that are run in various rivulets of Uttarakhand with the help of Hydel power are capable of generating enough electricity which can satisfy the needs of that village.

The Gharat can become the ultimate altrnative  Hydro energy solution for the environmentally fragile state like Uttarakhand.

for details on gharat go to

http://www.goodnewsindia.com/Pages/content/discovery/waterwheels.html

But the officials and the politicians are not interested in it as the scope of corruption diminishes.

Come what may todays development will energize the environmentalist worldwide and generate more eyeballs to such significant issues. 

For me it ia emotional issue too as my village is on the banks of Ganges where Pali Maneri Dam is being constructed and it would submerge completely on its completion.