GANGA - THE DISAPPEARING RIVER

Destroying the last existing pristine stretch from

Uttarkashi to Gangotri.

© Aryamaan Productions 2008

Facts and Information - 2008

SAVE THE GANGA: AN APPEAL

A GANGA HVAAN

CONTACT ADDRESS

MR. M.C.MEHTA

Tel – 011-41756519

DR.G.D.AGRAWAL

Tel – 01374-222937

PRIYA PATEL, Uttarkashi

Tel- 9756623826

DR. MEETA KHILNANI

Tel – 9414100744

CHANDAN SINGH RANA, Uttarkashi

Tel- 9410177490

BHANU PRAKASH BHANDARI, Uttarkashi

Tel- 01374236221

MADAN RAWAT, Uttarkashi

Tel- 01374236422

MAHESHWARI, Uttarkashi

Tel- 01374-223735

HEMANT DHYANI, Delhi

Tel- 9953585922

What the Government intends to do?

Today the government is in the process of building a cascade of dams along the

Ganga, commencing near her source in the pristine Himalayas at Gangotri. These

projects will join the Tehri dam, and other dams right up to Haridwar.

Hence the entire stretch of the Ganga – from Gangotri to

Haridwar is in fact a series of dams.

What does it entail?

These projects entail sheer destruction of the Himalayas through blasting, drilling

and pulling down mountain slopes in the process of building tunnels and

powerhouses. It involves cutting forests, trees, dirtying a pristine and untouched

portion of our mountains and scarring an entire valley permanently. Finally since

the projects are consecutive it entails pushing an entire river underground through

dark, sunless tunnels without a break.

A destroyed mountain slope between Loharinag and Pala

The latest projects, that need to be stopped immediately are?

1. Bhairon Ghati I – under

consideration (just 9km from

Gangotri)

2. Bhairon Ghati II – under

consideration (directly following the

above)

3. Loharinag –Pala – construction

started

4. Pala – Maneri – about to start

(directly after the above)

Head race tunnel under

construction at Loharinag

What will be left of the Ganga?

Nothing!! In the valley of her origin the Ganga will literally become non-existent.

These projects entail diverting almost the entire flow of the river through tunnels

drilled through the Himalayas. What is left is a dry river bed, with perhaps a

small stream which is barely sufficient to wet the ankles. This is basically 2-3

cumecs of water, the amount stipulated in the ‘Environmental impact assessment’

as the minimum to be released. Practically what one sees is a narrow, shallow

stream with fungal blooms at places, and this sorry flow is supposed to be the

mighty, the Divine ‘Ganga river’.

THE FULL GANGA BEFORE MANERI DAM

A VANISHED GANGA AFTER MANERI DAM

Retreat of the Gangotri glacier, Indian Himalayas

Will the Ganga survive this onslaught of ‘development’?

The Gangotri glacier, 30.2 km long, is one of the largest Himalayan glaciers. It

has been reported to be retreating at an alarming rate of 23 m/per year. It has been

predicted that by 2030 the glacier could disappear. Heavy machinery activities in

the eco-fragile Himalayan region so close to the source of the glacier is only

going to increase the rate of retreat according to glaciologists.

What do the environmentalists say?

The WWF reports that the Ganga is one of the ‘Top ten rivers at Risk’ world

wide. So are the Himalayas in the top 12 endagered places on the earth. Through

these projects, we inflict disastrous damage on both these, at one go.

What do these projects mean locally?If one thought that these projects bring

material prosperity locally, one is

entirely mistaken. So far there are

widespread reports of –

• Loss of water sources – entire

villages have lost drinking

water.

• Cracks in houses from blasting.

(This is a zone 5 area having

highest probability of

earthquakes in India.) Such

houses become extremely

unsafe for people living in

earthquake prone areas.

• Loss of land and hence loss of

livelihood and income.

• Loss of grazing land and forests

on which the mountain folk Headman of Village Salang heavily depend. showing crack in house• Loss of livelihood through

tourism - which is definitely

going to suffer immensely through loss of the Ganga, landslides and

general destruction of natural beauty.

• Loss of local culture which centers around the Ganga.

• Hunting of wildlife that come down the slopes in winter, by dam workers.

Do these projects provide employment?

It is clearly admitted in the project reports that many job openings are not

anticipated. In fact once the dam is functional very few personnel are needed.

Example Maneri dam I operational since 20 years employs just 70 people.

(population of district is 3 lakhs)

Even in the temporary construction phase, reports via RTI state a number of 70-

100 people working generally on a temporary basis as labour, contractor etc.

In fact looking at the long term one can see that these projects have lessened job

opportunities, independence, natural resources and overall has impoverished the

area. The poor just get poorer.

Ethics of the construction companies?

Muck generated during construction flowing directly into the Ganga

So far although there is photographic evidence

of muck freely being dumped in the Ganga, the

N.T.P.C. company that is working in the area

replied to a query via RTI that ‘no muck was

being disposed in the Ganga.’

They also absolutely deny that blasting by them

is creating cracks in houses although people

from 6 villages on both sides of the valley have

reported houses shaking, cracks etc. Hence they

assume no responsibility. All examinations in

this regard so far have been conducted by

agencies employed by themselves, hence they

can hardly be termed unbiased.

Local labour employed by them freely admitted

to cutting forest wood for fuel and using the Headman of village Shingoni

forest, river etc. for toilet purposes, although showing cement filled canal.

they are committed not to allow these things.

During work carried out by ‘Uttaranchal Jal Vidyut Nigam’, cement was dumped

into the river for 5 years. Cement also got deposited in the fields of the local

villagers making them barren.

The companies did not reply to queries by RTI and are obviously not keen to

share information. No documents were provided to the locals in Hindi.

Are these projects feasible?

The already existent Maneri dam 1 of

just 90 MW’s produces barely 50% of

its capacity since the last ten years as

reported via an RTI query. Reasons

stated by the U.J.V.N. are less water

in the Bhagirathi in winter, and too

much silt in monsoons. These 4

projects planned upstream of

Uttarkashi are cumulatively more than

1000 MW’s. How are they supposed

15 kms upstream from Uttarkashi – to run?

Maneri dam With the rapidly retreating glaciers,

global warming etc. how can these

projects sustain themselves in the long term?

The Unique River?

The Ganga is famous for her self purifying properties. Traditionally it is a known

fact that Ganga water can be stored for any length of time without decay, while

other waters would decay if similarly stored. Scientific studies corroborate this

fact. Perhaps she is the only river of her kind in the world.

Is the unique Ganga water

still Ganga water?

NO. These projects admit that water

temperature will rise, flow rate

decrease, flora and fauna will be

destroyed. The water itself does not

flow through natural Himalayan rock,

but through cemented tunnels.

Already there is evidence of the

companies dumping pure cement into

the river, dumping muck and other

wastes into the water. Hence the

Algae flourish in the stagnant Ganga qualities of Ganga water stand to bedownstream of Maneri dam destroyed right at the source – th ereby

in effect destroying the entire length of

the river.

An agreement almost 100 years old being ignored?

Almost a century back when the British were planning to check the flow of the

Ganga at Haridwar, Madan Mohan Malviya and some kings, the 4

Shankaracharyas and the public united in protest. The British relented. Chief

Sec. of the United Provinces, I.C.S., R.Burns passed order no 1002 on 20-4-1917

to ‘maintain a free flow of the Ganga.’ The spiritual traditions that even an alien

govt. respected, today our ‘own’ leaders threaten to violate.

The heavenly River –

In the Gita, when describing his

eminent manifestations Krishna

declares, “Among the water sources, I

am the Ganga.”

Swami Vivekananda said – ‘The Gita

and the Ganga constitute the

Hinduism of the Hindus’..

From birth to death a billion people

crave the drop of her waters on their

lips.

Even people from foreign lands

scatter their ashes in her flow and

consider themselves blessed.

The undisputable self-evident fact of Ganga flowing between Gangotri

the position of the Ganga in our and Uttarkashi existence is being completely ignored.

The final blow –

When the EIA reports state that no monument of historical, religious or

archaeological value are being affected by the various projects in the area – it

stupendously omits the mightiest of all symbols, the essence of all worship, the

most ancient, historical of all traditions – the Ganga herself. Such an omission is

too great a blunder, too great an insult to the entire country to let pass

unchallenged.

A Nation without pride –

Letting the Ganga disappear, aiding in the destruction of her qualities and flow

reveals a tremendous disrespect to the past of our country, considering the

generations who have worshipped her as Mother and Goddess, to the present

Indians who yet do – and to the future India whom we are depriving of their

national and spiritual heritage.

Call of the Ganga- ‘The ahvaan’-

A few minutes of your time and a little effort on your part could help save the

‘Ganga’ from further damage. Write a letter with full contact details to

C-103, Shastri Nagar, Jodhpur

Or email to meetavk@ hotmail.com

Tear this page out, fill out details and send –

SENDER NAME –

ADD –

CONTACT NO –

EMAIL –

‘A free flowing Ganga is an essential part of my country, our

culture and our heritage. I strongly protest the tunneling and destruction

of this flow for the production of hydro-power or for any other reason.

We have inherited a clean environment, rich flowing rivers and an

incredible culture from our forefathers. Conscience demands that we

leave it intact for the coming generations of our country. Mere consumption cannot be the final goal of our ‘development’ process.

Hence as a citizen of this country I demand that the Ganga be left free and

untampered in her course from Gangotri to the plains.’

NOTICE –

Dr. Agrawal, a retired professor of IIT Kanpur went on a fast unto death, which

commenced on June 13th 08 to oppose the hydro projects upstream of Uttarkashi. His fast was discontinued as the work on the dams was stopped but it was for a

short duration only. The work on dams is still going on. This will give a fatal

below to Ganga it not stopped now.

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