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Hydro-Power Projects and the Traditional People
At present, the authorities at the helm of affairs, as far as India is concerned, are expressing interest in the construction of mega hydro-electric power projects by harnessing the largely
unnamed mountain streams in the higher regions of India. It is a matter of great concern for the ecologists and anthropologists across the country as to whether the authorities are taking into consideration and properly studying the ecological and social scenario of the region. If a whole mountain stream is confined into a canal and in the process the natural flora and fauna gets destroyed then who are at a loss? The obvious answer to this is - the inhabitants of the region. Moreover, one should not forget that a stream does not carry water only. Along with the volume of water, it also carries with it silt and organic matter and other self cleansing properties that make the river water so pure. If the whole volume of water is diverted into a canal to feed the machineries of a hydro-electric project then the flow will be a volume of sterile water only and the original river bed will be dried up rendering it of no use at all. In this context it is pertinent to note the following, “Here it is important to remember that a river is not just a body of water: it is a wholesome entity of water, silt and organic matters…National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) finds traces of radioactive elements and heavy metals like uranium, thorium, zinc, lead and copper that gives it a legendary self-cleansing property” (Agarwal:2013). Further, one should keep in mind that the Himalayan belt all through is ecologically fragile with lose soil and it is necessary to address such natural conditions before venturing into mega hydro-electric projects.
| It is a matter of great concern for the ecologists and anthropologists across the country as to whether the authorities are taking into consideration and properly studying the ecological and social scenario of the region. |
It may be mentioned here that at present the policy makers are trying their best to tap the resources of the North East region of India in general and the frontier regions that border China (Tibet) in the State of Arunachal Pradesh in particular. One such project which has often been in the news is the Tipaimukh dam project. Here, the river Barak which flows through the hills and gorges of Manipur and Mizoram before spreading in the plains of Assam is harnessed. In this context Sinha (1992:57) has sounded a warning that, “It is estimated that 31 villages with 1310 families and 743 hectares of garden land will be affected by the submergence.” Next, most of the people by now are well aware of the controversial Ranganadi project of the Lower Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh constructed by the NHPC. One may remember the amount of protest rallies that were held in parts of Assam and particularly in the Lakhimpur district of Assam. Further, amid the concerns expressed by the environmentalists, on 28th May 2013 the Government of Arunachal Pradesh has signed a MOA (Memorandum of Agreement) where NEEPCO (North East Electric Power Corporation) in the relatively remote Upper Siang District of the State where the Tsangpo enters India to take the new nomenclature of Siang and to be later known as the Brahmaputra while flowing into the plains of Assam.
At present the authorities are on a mission to construct as many as fifteen dams on the mountain streams that mostly flow in through the deep gorges formed by the snow covered mountains
of Tawang district of the State of Arunachal Pradesh from China (Tibet) to spread wings in the plains of Assam to be the tributaries of the mighty Brahmaputra. It may be mentioned here that most of the mountain streams are not that commonly known except the two that flow with a considerable volume of water, namely the Tawang Chu in the Tawang Administrative Circle and the Nyamjang Chu (PLATE – 3) in the Zemithang Administrative Circle. Upon browsing through the information on the proposed hydro-electric power projects that are going to be constructed in the different parts of the Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh, it has been found that “15 hydro-electric power projects are on rivers that are tributaries of the Manas River, which in turn is a tributary of the mighty Brahmaputra. The Manas River flows through the Manas National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, which would be severely impacted by the construction of these projects. One of the main concerns of the Monpa tribe is the influx of laborers for the dam construction that would irreversibly change the cultural dynamics of the area. Many of the proposed projects in Tawang (Tsa-Chu I, Tsa-Chu II, Tsa-Chu Lower, Thingbu Chu, Mago Chu, New Melling, Rho and Nyamjangchu) are close to the Indo - China border thus making the region strategically vulnerable in the event of aggression. This is also of concern to the people. Another concern is that the region is a seismic zone and there are chances of severe earthquakes. Also the Monpas, the local tribal population of Tawang district feel that the bio-diversity of this region of Tawang district would suffer a total set back as it is the habitat of a number of species of fauna, such as, the clouded leopard, snow leopard, red panda and mountain goat.”
Amidst many concerns the fact that most of the above streams where the dams are going to be constructed are largely glacially fed and the volume of water would definitely be less during the winters it may also be an anxiety and requires to be addressed properly.
| Amidst many concerns the fact that most of the above streams where the dams are going to be constructed are largely glacially fed and the volume of water would definitely be less during the winters it may also be an anxiety and requires to be addressed properly. |
It may be stated here that in the very recent past this country has witnessed the devastation that caused a huge loss of life and property in the State of Uttarakhand and it has been reported time and again in the electronic and in the print media that this was a man-made disaster because the norms of nature were not taken into consideration while this area was being ‘developped’. In this context the following observation is very pertinent - “Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, two hill states in the Himalayan range, are so far the worst hit by the extreme rains that struck northern India in the wake of monsoons that set in early this year. Media reports say nearly 60 persons (may be more) have died in Uttarakhand, and an estimated 60,000 pilgrims are stranded. Heavy rainfall has wreaked havoc on the region because of the fragile nature of the Himalayan range and poor soil stability in its steep slopes. But it is man-made factors that have compounded the scale of the disaster. Unabated expansion of hydro-power projects and construction of roads to accommodate ever-increasing tourism, especially religious tourism, are also major causes for the unprecedented scale of devastation, say experts. “The valleys of the Yamuna, the Ganga and the Alaknanda witness heavy traffic of tourists. For this, the government has to construct new roads and widen the existing ones,” says Maharaj Pandit, professor with the Department of Environmental Sciences in Delhi University. He says that a study should be conducted to assess the carrying capacity of the Himalayas and development should be planned accordingly. It was also mentioned that the Ganga in the upper reaches has been an engineer’s playground. The Central Electricity Authority and the Uttarakhand power department have estimated the river’s hydroelectric potential at some 9,000 MW and have planned 70 - odd projects on its tributaries. In building these projects the key tributaries would be modified through diversion to tunnels or reservoirs to such an extent that 80 per cent of the Bhagirathi and 65 per cent of the Alaknanda could be affected. As much as 90 per cent of the other smaller tributaries could be affected in the same way. Pandit is also of the opinion that rampant construction, be it of roads, or dams, has led to land use change and the cumulative effect is getting reflected in the extent of damage that rains have caused.
It is therefore absolutely necessary that full care be taken in consultation with the ecologists, anthropologists, environmentalists and the other concerned and prominent people of the region to design the projects in such a way that the region of Tawang does not face any catastrophe in the time to come as it is also a mountainous and landlocked area like Uttarakhand.
