DEHRA DUN: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank has written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to immediately scrap the 600-MW Loharinag Pala power project being constructed by NTPC on the Bhagirathi in Uttarkashi.
The project envisages putting the river inside a 13-km-long tunnel which has been opposed by environmentalists as well as holy men who feel that such an attempt would ruin the perennial flow of the Ganga as well as bio-diversity of the region, he said.
He pointed out that the State Government had scrapped the Pala Maneri and Bhaironghati power projects about 18 months ago to respect public sentiment and safeguard the region's bio-diversity.
The Chief Minister also sought 2000 MW of power free of charge for development of the State that has a green cover of about 60 per cent.
“The State does have a right to some additional benefits as it helps maintain the eco-system of the country through its rich forest cover,” Mr. Nishank said.
Meanwhile, G. D. Aggarwal, a retired professor of IIT Kanpur, has been on an indefinite fast since July 20 at an ashram in Haridwar seeking restoration of the perennial flow of the Ganga and scrapping of all power projects on the river between Gangotri and Uttarkashi. Dr Aggarwal had forced suspension of work at this project after a 38-day fast in 2009.
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