Press Note 15th June 2015: Kinnaur residents rise-up! Demand immediate action on pathetic condition of NH-5

Close to 500 residents of Hangrang Valley and other areas of Pooh block Upper Kinnaur today held a rally at Kinnaur’s district headquarter Rekong Peo demanding immediate action by the Administration on the pathetic conditions of roads, especially, the National Highway 5. “NH-5, which is the lifeline of Kinnaur and the only road for residents […]

Kinnaur’s Curse? : Economic and Political Weekly

An article published in Economic and Political Weekly by Manshi Asher, member of Himdhara Environment Research and Action Collective Kinnaur, one of Himachal Pradesh’s most ecologically fragile places, is under threat from widespread construction activity in hydroelectric power projects. Landslides have become a common occurrence threatening apple orchards as well as habitats in Kinnaur. A […]

A Himalayan Sell Out : Down To Earth

An article published in Down to Earth by Kesang Thakur & Manshi Asher, members of  Himdhara Environment Research and Action Collective The development juggernaut has gained new momentum with the Narendra Modi led BJP government assuming power. There is a new vigour to steam rolling policies, laws or regulatory mechanisms, seen as a threat or obstacles […]

Govt apathy fanning protests against hydro projects: The Indian Express

February 5, 2015 A panel of experts appointed by the Himachal Pradesh government has said that popular opposition to large hydel power projects on the Sutlej is being fanned by the establishment’s “indifference” to the problems of the people. The panel has rejected the conclusions of a report prepared earlier for the union government, which […]

5-member team fails to assess damage due to heat, smoke : Tribune

Tribune News Service Shimla, January 23 In 70°C temperature and a thick layer of carbon sprayed all over the power house, the team of engineers of HP State Electricity Board Ltd (HPSEBL) today failed to inspect the multi-crore switch yard of the underground power house of 120 mw Sanjay Jalvidyut Pariyojna (SJP). The five-member team […]

Jaypee group seeks govt’s intervention : Tribune

Tribune News Service Shimla, January 23 Seeking intervention of the state government to ensure that there is no law and order problem arising out of the workers’ strike at the Karcham-Wangtoo and Baspa projects, Manoj Gaur, Executive Chairman of Jaypee Group, met CM Virbhadra Singh today. Even as the conciliation meetings held in the recent […]

PRESS NOTE 12th December 2014: People of Kinnaur challenge Satluj basin impact study as “biased” and “pro-hydro” : Panel silenced by questions raised at Public Consultation

On 8th and 9th December 2014, the Directorate of Energy organised Public Consultations in Rekong Peo and Pooh (Kinnaur District) on the Cumulative Environment Impact Assessment Study conducted for the Satluj River Basin. The study, which had the mandate to assess the over all cumulative impacts of the ongoing and proposed hydropower development in the […]

Critique of the Cumulative Impact Assessment report of Satluj River Basin

Himdhara made a detailed submission on the critique of the Cumulative Impact Assessment report of Satluj Basin conducted by ICFRE. The study was conducted for the Himachal government after the Ministry of  Environment , Forest and Climate Change urged it to assess the cumulative impacts of hydro power projects on all the river basins of […]

Photo Essay : When mountains are hollowed …

A Photo Essay on the impacts of blasting and tunneling for hydroprojects (Photos by Sumit Mahar) Tunneling for hydropower project using the blasting technique can be compared to mining or quarrying. It has a series of direct and indirect impacts which have already been documented. Among the most serious impacts of tunneling that are likely to […]

Dec 7, 2013 Public Uproar at Satluj Basin Consultation

SHIMLA: Environmentalists denounce the process as an ill-timed eyewash; Force Government to conduct Consultations at Tehsil levelA public consultation on the Cumulative Environment Impact study of the Satluj river basin conducted today at Jhakhri today saw uproarious scenes with the project affected people of the Satluj valley and environmental organisations vehemently protesting against the conduct […]