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 occur as a result of blasting for constructing the tunnel for the project is drying up of the natural drinking water springs and the reduction in sub-soil moisture. This directly impacts the drinking water availability for the local villagers as well as agriculture and horticultural productivity, which is critically dependent upon the presence of sub-soil moisture. Blasting for tunnels and other underground components of hydroelectricity projects creates vibrations that have resulted in cracks in houses situated near these components.

 This photo essay documents the impacts of tunneling and blasting for hydropower projects mainly in Chamba and Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh. In Chamba, the impacts of  Chamera III, Chanju, Ginni, A.T. hydropower projects were studied, and Karcham Wangtoo and Nathpa Jhakri in Kinnaur district.

Read a detailed article on this issue,  ‘Seeping through the cracks’ visit

http://www.epw.in/web-exclusives/seeping-through-cracks.html

Post Author: Admin