Villagers oppose NOC to Luhri project, petition Prem Kumar Dhumal

Anand Bodh, TNN | Sep 6, 2012, 05.59AM IST

SHIMLA: Residents of 78 villages of Kullu, Mandi and Shimla districts, who are likely to be affected by the construction of 775 MW Luhri hydroelectric project, are up in arms against the project as they fear that construction of 38-km long twin tunnels passing underneath many villages would ruin their habitat by causing environment changes, depletion of water levels, besides developing cracks in their houses.

Having refused no objection certificate (NOC) to the project, the affected people on Tuesday have submitted a memorandum to chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal on the issue.

The Luhri project, spread over areas of Kullu, Mandi and Shimla districts, is facing stiff opposition from people of affected panchayats since beginning. Environment activists have expressed concern over its impact on environment as the project would have longest twin tunnels in the world, that would divert the last flowing stretch of Satluj river.

Manshi Asher of Himdhara said that they have been demanding that before starting any new project on Satluj river, its load capacity should be assessed as already over 30 projects on the river have been sanctioned or are at different stages of construction.

Members of Satluj Sangarsh Samiti, opposing the project, claimed that the administration, during the gram sabha meetings held recently, has exerted pressure on panchayats to issue NOC to the project. During the visit of chief minister to Karsog area on Tuesday, the affected people submitted a memorandum to him and requested that an assessment of areas likely to be affected by the twin tunnels should be carried out before granting any approval to the project.

A resident of project-affected Behna panchayat of Ani tehsil of Kullu district and president of Satluj Bachao Sangarsh Samiti, Dayal Singh Verma, said that past experience about such tunnels was not good as villages located above such tunnels are witnessing changes in environment with water resources drying up, resulting in adverse impact on agriculture and horticulture production.

Shyam Singh Chauhan of Sarahan panchayat said that fearing loss of natural resources after the construction of twin tunnels, people have turned against the project. “Two months back, five panchayats — Bindla, Parlog, Nanj, Taibban and Sarahan — of Mandi district had forwarded an agenda to block development office requesting review of the project,” he said.

Chauhan said that adverse impact on natural resources and local fauna is inevitable as the last portion of Satluj would be diverted into the tunnels under the project. Since the implementation of Forest Rights Act 2006 in March 2012 by the state government, majority of affected gram sabhas in Kullu and Mandi districts have decided to oppose the project, he added.

Himanshu Thakkar from Delhi-based South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People, said that the environment and social impact report of Luhri project has not been submitted to World Bank so far nor the latter has decided to extend monetary assistance to the project. “As per Indian laws, the project has yet to get environment and forest clearances. As such, how can the administration and project authorities ask for NOC,” he asked.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Villagers-oppose-NOC-to-Luhri-project-petition-Prem-Kumar-Dhumal/articleshow/16274928.cms