Before rejoining the BJP, Bharati had been protesting against the 330 MW project on river Alakananda and forced environment minister Jairam Ramesh to issue a stop work order on dam construction. Alakananda river is tributary of river Ganga. The minister had constituted an inquiry committee on the alleged environmental violations, which submitted its report last year. Earlier IIT Roorkee and another inquiry committee had analysed the project.Â
"From 2008 to 2011, three committees have drawn pointed attention to the severe shortcomings pertaining to muck disposal. No further construction work should be allowed until AHPCL had demonstrably overhauled its practices of much disposal," Ramesh said, in an internal note this week.Â
The note also said that on relocation of Dhara Devi temple an outside agency like INTACH with a conservation architect should be brought on board. Only after the relocation plan has been modified resuming construction can be considered, he said, adding that the reworking of the plan should be done in consultation with local people and priest of the temple. Read the full report here.
Source: Chetan Chauhan, Hindustan Times, New Delhi.
