Documentary on impact of hydropower projects screened

Our Correspondent

Palampur, December 10

The premiere screening of “ Ho gayi hai pir parvat si (The mountains agonised)”, a documentary on the impacts of hydropower projects in the Sutlej valley, was organised during a film festival, “Cinema of Resistance”, at the Sambhaavnaa Institute, Kandwari, 10 km from here, on Sunday evening.

Made by filmmaker Subrat Kumar Sahu, the documentary that was competed in nearly eight years has covered all villages in the valley and captured visuals and testimonies of deleterious effects of ongoing hydropower projects on farm-based economies and water sources.

Residents of Ramour to the Hangrang valley in Upper Kinnaur have shared their experiences and attempts to protect their lives, livelihood and cultures. They tell endless tales of devastation as well as environmental violations and the failure of law and policy to address their concerns.

When asked why the Sutlej valley was chosen, Subrat Sahu said he had come to the valley in 2010 to shot a film. Instead of landscapes, he saw mountains of muck and concrete. “I knew that there is a story to be heard and told. I decided to make a documentary on the valley.”

He said the state government had chalked out plans to set up hundreds of hydropower projects in the state to generate 27,000 MW of electricity, which would exploit rivers.

He said at present, 10,000 MW were being harnessed from the already commissioned projects. Out of the five major river basins in Himachal, the Sutlej has the highest identified capacity of 13,000 MW. He said focusing on the Sutlej basin, the film had captured the devastation of resources and ecology.

Sanjay Joshi, national convener of “Cinema of Resistance”, a travelling film festival, said, “Our aim is highlight the real issues of people as opposed to the contemporary mainstream media and cinemas.”