Landslip fallout of Nathpa-Jhakri power project tunnel work?

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Nugalsari (Kinnaur), August 12

The disastrous fallout of construction of tunnel of 1500 MW Nathpa-Jhakri hydropower project has started manifesting in the shape of frequent landslides. The fragile hills through which the tunnel has penetrated have become more vulnerable to landslides and Nugalsari and some other stretches which have witnessed massive landslides fall in line of the tunnel.

The tribal people of Kinnaur are dejected over frequent landslides in the area, causing extensive damage to ecology and claiming human lives and feel that innocent people are paying the cost of development.

The hills are already vulnerable. Besides climate change, there has been spurt in construction and human activity in the region over past three decades. Reckless felling of trees in the name of development, cutting of hills for road connectivity, controlled blasting for construction of tunnels and craze for harnessing hydro-power potential of river and its tributaries have further destabilized the fragile ecology.

The people of Kinnaur are living under the threat of natural calamities as the area falls in seismic zone V and is prone to earthquakes. Increase in frequency of landslides and flash floods have further added to their anxiety and fear of the people, said Paramjeet, who works in a dhaba adding that the vibration from blasting is felt within two-three km distance.

The power projects have become bane of the region as people believe that tunnels cause irreversible damages to the environment. The local people have been agitating against big hydro-power projects but the government is keen to harness about 10,300 MW hydel potential of Sutlej basin.

Mega Nathpi- Jhakri (1500 MW), Rampur Hydel Project (412 MW), Karchham-Wangtoo project (1200 MW), Baspa project (300 MW), Bhabha project (120 MW) and some other projects have already been commissioned. Most of these are run-of-the-river (RoR) projects, believed to have low environmental cost as the river or stream is put through tunnels and made to fall on the turbine from a height.

Blasting done for construction of tunnels triggers landslides with greater frequency in the geographically fragile Kinnaur region. The government should study the reports of the Geological Survey of India about the soil strata and make an environment assessment report of every project, besides taking local people into confidence, said convener of Him Lok Jagriti Manch, R S Negi, a retired IAS officer.

Landslides damage farms, block roads and lead to drying up of springs. Blasting also impacts buildings while deforestation on the project site and diversion of the water source further impact the local environment and biodiversity. NGOs like Himalaya Niti Abhiyan, Him Lok Jagriti Manch and Himdhara are opposing power projects.

“The claims of controlled blasting are only an eyewash and fragile hills in areas where tunnels have been constructed have become more vulnerable and crumbling,” said a resident of Nathpa.