The situation has turned so grave that the Himachal Pradesh High Court had recently took suo moto cognisance of the extensive environmental damage caused to the ecology. The court had sought replies from the state government, Kinnaur’s Deputy Conservator of Forests, Himachal Pradesh Pollution Control Board as well as the local panchayat pradhan.
The project, which is being constructed on Roura Khad located near Yula village, was announced in 2012. It is expected to reduce green house gas emissions with the use of a clean, renewable source for electricity generation. The project is also expected to reduce dependence on fossil fuel of the integrated NEWNE grid, which is dominated by emission intensive fossil fuel-based thermal power plants.
While the project was expected to be commissioned by July 2014, its construction work only commenced in 2023 after the completion of all formalities as well as the fulfillment of required permissions.
However, as the work on the project progressed, locals started to express concern over the potential threat that it posed to the area. Locals alleged that the debris and muck generated at the construction site were being illegally dumped on mountain slopes and in nullahs, degrading the ecology of the district. The villagers also accused the district administration of not taking appropriate action in the matter though its intervention had been sought several times.
Anil Kapoor, a social activist and resident of Yula village, says that the project was supposed to have pipes but the company was constructing tunnels for it. “Blasting being done at the construction site is affecting fragile mountains in nearby villages. What’s shocking is that though a dumping site had been approved in its detailed project report (DPR), the company had not constructed one such place. Debris and muck were being openly dumped in nullahs and on slopes, affecting the lives of people and causing significant damage to the environment,” he adds.
He says, “The situation is very grave as several houses in nearby villages have developed cracks due to continuous blasting. We have also informed the district administration through panchayat representatives that around 40 houses have developed visible cracks. However, no concrete action has been taken so far. Furthermore, our orchards and fields have also been damaged due to dust continuously emerging from the site. We are having a tough time managing our livestock. People here are worried about their future as water bodies are being contaminated with muck. Not only this, the chances of massive damage in case of a cloudburst during the monsoon season have also become high due to illegal dumping.”
This is not the first instance that local people have opposed such projects. In 2021, locals had led an extensive campaign named ‘No Means No’ and sought the halting of the construction of new hydroelectric projects in the district, citing environmental damage, heavy landslides and threat to life and property as the reasons. As a result, the Jangi Thopan Powari hydroelectric power project was put on hold. In 2023, the state government then cancelled the project’s allotment to the SJVN.
Situated at an altitude of 2,769 meters, Kinnaur is known for its stunning landscapes, including three high mountains viz. Zanskar, Greater Himalayas and Dhauladhars, attracting lakhs of tourists from across the country every year. The Sutlej along with Spiti and Baspa tributaries was the main river of the district. From dense forests to apple orchards, fields and picturesque villages, Kinnaur remains one of the most picturesque districts of the state.
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