Update

Dr.G.D. Agrawal to Resume Fast-Unto-Death

Blames Governmental Deception 

You will recall that Dr. Agrawal called off his first fast on the 18^th day, June 30, 2008 after the Government of Uttarakhand promised in writing to suspend work on the Bhairon Ghati (380 MW) and Pala-Maneri (480 MW) hydropower projects (HPPs) on the Bhagirathi river (See map in attachment “Saving River Ganga”) and the Government of India gave a written commitment “to ensure perennial environmental flows in all stretches of River Bhagirathi and to keep it alive.” Charging the Government of India with reneging on this solemn commitment Dr Agrawal resumed his fast-unto-death a second time on January 14, 2009. He broke this fast on the 38^th day, February 20, 2008 when the GoI gave a written commitment to suspend all work on the Loharinag-Pala HPP with immediate effect.

Unfortunately, however, work on the Loharinag-Pala HPP, has been continuing in full swing in the last few months.  This is despite a judgement passed by the Nainital High Court on May 18, 2009 vacating an earlier stay on the GOI’s order of Feb 19^th to stop work on the dam.  The Court’s suggestion that the GoI appoint a Committee of Experts within one month to review the issue of construction of dams on the Bhagirathi river and make its recommendations to the newly formed Ganga River Basin Authority in another two months has been totally ignored.  No Committee has been formed till now. The Government of Uttarakhand, on the other hand, has begun work on constructing a road for the Pala-Maneri dam.  Officials of the state run Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (UJVNL) have recently claimed to have received a green signal from the Centre to go ahead with the construction of its two suspended dams.

It is a fairly common tactic of governments, to make reassuring promises to protesters in order to get them to give up their protests.  But as the media attention dissipates and the protests fade from public memory, they go back on their word. A similar breach of trust has compelled Dr. G.D. Agrawal to consider a fast-unto-death again to ensure that the river Bhagirathi flows in its natural form between Gangotri and Uttarkashi.   

The state and central governments are trying to tire out Dr. Agrawal and us, his supporters.  They intend to wear us out and build the dams.  If we are serious about ensuring that the Ganga flows in its natural form, in the only stretch that is still pristine, then we will have to show that our opposition to the proposed dams is untiring.  We do not oppose all hydropower projects.  But we do believe that hydropower generation must only be done in a manner that is safe and sustainable for society and the environment (See “Saving River Ganga”).