The Hidden Cost of Hydropower : Environmental hazards and risks of tunneling, excavation and construction in Run of the River Hydropower Projects in Himachal Pradesh

A Summary Note Even as we are at the end of the fifth decade of celebrating the World Environment Day, globally the environmental crisis continues to worsen. One of the solutions to mitigate the climate crisis and green house gas emissions adopted by countries including India has been shifting to renewable energy sources like Hydropower. […]

Protect Our Rivers, Protect Life, A Citizens’ Appeal

March 21, 2018 To, Smt Manisha Nanda Addl. Chief Secy. cum Principal Secy. to the Chief Minister (Environment Science & Technology, Information & Public Relation, Tourism & Civil Aviation) Government of Himachal Pradesh Dear Mam, We are writing to you on the Day of Action for Rivers across the world on behalf of the concerned […]

‘Pot-Pilgrims’ and Gods of Himalayan Things

With tourism to Parvati Valley on the rise, local communities struggle to cope with the pressures of the new consumerist society. The village square is bustling with activity. Women are seated along the stone wall boundary of the exquisitely wood carved temple. In the centre is a huddle of local men, and emerging from it is a golden […]

Video: The #DirtyHydro Diaries: The Parbati Story: When mountains are hollowed

In The DirtyHydro Diaries we bring you the Parbati Story from Raila village, Sainj valley in Kullu district, Himachal Pradesh, affected by the NHPC’s 800 MW Parbati II Hydropower project. On 16th April 2017, villagers discovered a deep crack in their fields which now is threatening their lives.

Press Note: Implement FRA to resolve forest land occupations of landholders: Himachal Van Adhikar Manch; 5th February 2017

The members of the Himachal Van Adhikar Manch, a state level forum of social organisations advocating for implementation of the Forest Rights Act 2006 met in Shimla today to discuss the issues of landholders with forest land occupations facing the threat of eviction in the state. Members of the manch plan to meet the High […]

Press Statement 1/12/15 : Kinnaur in crisis; Sheer Negligence in hydro projects claiming lives. Who is accountable?

In the last two weeks a half a dozen lives have been lost in the Kinnaur region alone in three separate incidents that have one thing in common – accidents at hydropower project sites. The first event took place in Burang village on the 18th of November 2015 where a penstock pipe burst of the […]

Discussion on Forest Rights Act at Nakthan, Parvati Valley

A meeting on Forest Rights Act (FRA) and forest diversion in the context of the proposed 520 MW Nakthan hydro-electricity project was conducted by Himdhara on December 28, 2013 in Nakthan Village in Parbati Valley. A valley which already houses the giant 800 MW Parbati II HEP is now making way for 520 MW Nakthan […]

Dec 7, 2013 Public Uproar at Satluj Basin Consultation

SHIMLA: Environmentalists denounce the process as an ill-timed eyewash; Force Government to conduct Consultations at Tehsil levelA public consultation on the Cumulative Environment Impact study of the Satluj river basin conducted today at Jhakhri today saw uproarious scenes with the project affected people of the Satluj valley and environmental organisations vehemently protesting against the conduct […]

Villagers oppose NOC to Luhri project, petition Prem Kumar Dhumal

Anand Bodh, TNN | Sep 6, 2012, 05.59AM IST SHIMLA: Residents of 78 villages of Kullu, Mandi and Shimla districts, who are likely to be affected by the construction of 775 MW Luhri hydroelectric project, are up in arms against the project as they fear that construction of 38-km long twin tunnels passing underneath many […]