No new hydroelectric projects be permitted in upper reaches of Ganga river basin: Centre to SC

Acknowledging the fragile Himalayan ecosystem, the Centre has told the Supreme Court that no new hydroelectric project should be allowed in the upper reaches of the Ganga river basin, apart from seven such projects in the Alaknanda and Bhagirathi river basins, subject to strict environmental safeguards.

In an affidavit filed before the court, the Centre has submitted that the seven projects -- Tehri Stage-II (1,000 MW), Tapovan Vishnugad (520 MW), Vishnugad Pipalkoti (444 MW), Signoli Bhatwari (99 MW), Phata Byung (76 MW), Madhmaheshwar (15 MW) and Kaliganga-II (4.5 MW) -- should be allowed.

The Union of India, represented by Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, submitted that the Ganga river system requires ''special treatment'' because of its ecological, geological and cultural significance.

''On behalf of the Union of India, it is respectfully submitted that only the seven hydro-electric projects, of which four projects are already commissioned and three projects have already achieved substantial physical and financial progress, may be permitted to proceed, subject to strict compliance with all applicable statutory provisions and environmental safeguards and that no other new hydro-electric projects shall be undertaken in the upper reaches of the Ganga river basin in Uttarakhand,'' the affidavit said.

The Centre told the top court that the risk or damage to the environment, including the health of the river, is far greater than the financial benefits of hydro power.

Highlighting the Ganga river basin's vulnerability to landslides and flash floods, the affidavit said the Alaknanda and Bhagirathi basins contain critical headstreams of the Ganga and play an essential role in maintaining river biodiversity and ecological balance.

It said earlier expert recommendations favouring an increase in the number of hydropower projects failed to adequately assess the cumulative environmental impact of multiple dams and other human activities in the region.

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

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