Decreasing water level in Tehri lake poses threat to villages

Ajay Ramola

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Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, November 14

Residents of 12 villages living around the Tehri lake are tense following fear of land subsidence due to decrease in the water level of the Tehri Dam lake.

With the decrease in water levels, the embankments of the lake at several places begin to erode, resulting in frequent landslides threatening the existence of the affected villages in the region. The frequent landslides have instilled fear among the residents of Tulyada, Gailadi, Hadiyadi, Badhan Gaon, Kumrada villages along with a portion of the Pipal Mandi market at Chinyali Saud, etc. Villagers have been demanding rehabilitation or treatment of the affected area from the authorities who have turned a blind eye to the situation.

Harish Thapliyal, a Para Legal volunteer of the District Legal Service Authority, said the water level had come down to around three metres from the previous levels leading to an increase of land erosion threat as most of the banks contained sand and mud that cracked due to sun rays falling on the soil.

Thapliyal said the affected villagers were feeling neglected and if their grievances were not heard, they could resort to boycotting the Assembly elections.

Nagar Panchayat president Chinyali Saud Shoorvir Rangad, speaking to The Tribune, said the problem of landslide and subsidence had become an annual feature and no solution had been found yet. Rangad said Tehri Hydro Electric Corporation (THDC) officials, along with rehabilitation department, Tehri range, had been apprised of the situation. THDC officials had started treating the affected part only for a few days but had left it incomplete when the level rose rendering the whole exercise useless.

Rehabilitation Department Executive Engineer Sharad Srivastava, Tehri division, said they worked under the collateral damage policy and initiate any work after complete geological study of the affected region.