Suresh Bhai , a Dalit social and environment activist, is the founder and chairperson of Himalya Paryavaran Shiksha Sansthan, Uttarkashi. He is involved with various campaigns that demand a reconsideration of the plan to build over 300 hydel projects in Uttarakhand. Bharat Dogra spoke to Suresh Bhai as protests against the projects gain ground:
How did you get involved in the issue of dam construction?
We were involved in the protection of trees movement called Raksha Sutra (symbolised by women tying sacred threads on trees) and preparing a protective water policy for the newly created state. We had a forum called Jal Sanskriti Manch and teams of street theatre groups performed in various parts of the state to highlight the need to protect water. Projects like Tehri and Maneri Bhali had caused great damage in our vicinity. We noticed that at the time of the earthquake most people perished in those villages where land had been destabilised by explosions done for dam construction. So when dam construction work escalated, the issue became a priority for people and, therefore, for us.
Why exactly are you opposing these projects?
Earlier over 300 projects were talked about, but an RTI application got the official reply that there are around 550 projects. The government's approach is to assess each project individually. What about the combined impact on the fragile geology and ecology of the area, considering the high levels of seismicity in the region? We've seen many villages being devastated by indiscriminate and heavy use of explosives in the course of dam construction. We've seen fields and forests destroyed. Our estimate is that when all these projects are taken together, nearly two million people in about 5,000 villages will be adversely affected. A lot of people will be left to live and work on top of tunnels. Others will be displaced. Rivers, including the most sacred rivers, will be greatly depleted and devastated over vast stretches.
While these gigantic changes were being introduced, none considered it necessary to fulfil the legal obligation of consulting the gram sabhas. All sorts of tricks and bribes were used to get permissions to start work. In projects like Philenda-Bhilangana, activists like Trepan Chauhan and villagers faced heavy repression. I was jailed twice.
What is the current state of this opposition?
At present, attention is focused on Pala-Loharinag project as a result of the fast undertaken by G D Aggarwal (former professor at IIT, Kanpur, and member-secretary of the Central Pollution Control Board). But above all we need to take a comprehensive look at the overall impact of all the projects. While the Ganga river has a special place in the heart of millions, what's happening on the various tributaries can't be ignored as these impact the main river. The same is true for the Yamuna.
What kind of policy changes do you want?
The democratic process of a genuine consultation with gram sabhas and obtaining their approval for any action that impacts people's lives and livelihoods should be firmly established. The social and environment impacts and hazards should be studied with the cooperation of the people and reports placed before them in their language. Complaints of corruption and illegal constructions must be investigated. Attention should be given to the protection of traditional water sources. All forms of life in rivers need to be protected. Traditional use of water energy by improving watermills should get attention.
TOI
How did you get involved in the issue of dam construction?
We were involved in the protection of trees movement called Raksha Sutra (symbolised by women tying sacred threads on trees) and preparing a protective water policy for the newly created state. We had a forum called Jal Sanskriti Manch and teams of street theatre groups performed in various parts of the state to highlight the need to protect water. Projects like Tehri and Maneri Bhali had caused great damage in our vicinity. We noticed that at the time of the earthquake most people perished in those villages where land had been destabilised by explosions done for dam construction. So when dam construction work escalated, the issue became a priority for people and, therefore, for us.
Why exactly are you opposing these projects?
Earlier over 300 projects were talked about, but an RTI application got the official reply that there are around 550 projects. The government's approach is to assess each project individually. What about the combined impact on the fragile geology and ecology of the area, considering the high levels of seismicity in the region? We've seen many villages being devastated by indiscriminate and heavy use of explosives in the course of dam construction. We've seen fields and forests destroyed. Our estimate is that when all these projects are taken together, nearly two million people in about 5,000 villages will be adversely affected. A lot of people will be left to live and work on top of tunnels. Others will be displaced. Rivers, including the most sacred rivers, will be greatly depleted and devastated over vast stretches.
While these gigantic changes were being introduced, none considered it necessary to fulfil the legal obligation of consulting the gram sabhas. All sorts of tricks and bribes were used to get permissions to start work. In projects like Philenda-Bhilangana, activists like Trepan Chauhan and villagers faced heavy repression. I was jailed twice.
What is the current state of this opposition?
At present, attention is focused on Pala-Loharinag project as a result of the fast undertaken by G D Aggarwal (former professor at IIT, Kanpur, and member-secretary of the Central Pollution Control Board). But above all we need to take a comprehensive look at the overall impact of all the projects. While the Ganga river has a special place in the heart of millions, what's happening on the various tributaries can't be ignored as these impact the main river. The same is true for the Yamuna.
What kind of policy changes do you want?
The democratic process of a genuine consultation with gram sabhas and obtaining their approval for any action that impacts people's lives and livelihoods should be firmly established. The social and environment impacts and hazards should be studied with the cooperation of the people and reports placed before them in their language. Complaints of corruption and illegal constructions must be investigated. Attention should be given to the protection of traditional water sources. All forms of life in rivers need to be protected. Traditional use of water energy by improving watermills should get attention.
TOI
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