Proposal for hydropower projects opposed in Lahaul
Residents of Lahaul and Spiti district have raised concerns following the Telangana Government’s proposal to set up two major hydropower projects in the region. Telangana’s Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka recently met Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu in New Delhi, where he submitted a letter expressing interest in developing the SELI HEP (400 MW) and MIYAR HEP (120 MW) power projects.
The Government of Telangana has requested the Himachal Pradesh Government to draft a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to proceed with the plan. However, local residents are worried about the potential environmental and social impacts of such large-scale projects in an already fragile ecosystem.
Rajesh, a resident of Udaipur, said, “We are seeing glaciers melting rapidly and irregular snowfall patterns. This year, we have had no snow at all, when typically there would be over four feet of snow in December and January.”
HR Gaur, another Udaipur resident, voices concerns over the ongoing road widening projects in the region. He says such projects will exacerbate environmental problems. “We are already suffering due to road expansion projects. The proposal for hydropower projects is making residents more anxious about the future of the district,” he adds.
Local leaders, including Kunga Bodh, a member of the District Council, Lahaul and Spiti, have also opposed the proposed power projects. “Lahaul and Spiti is an eco-fragile area, where the impact of such projects can be disastrous. The district is already dealing with heavy rainfall and frequent landslides. Large-scale hydropower projects can make matters worse,” he claims.
Environmental organisations have also echoed these concerns and many of them are opposing the state government’’s plan to implement hydropower projects in the tribal district. These groups argue that such projects can further disrupt the delicate balance of the local ecosystem, which is already strained by changing climatic conditions.
The proposal follows earlier discussions between officials from Telangana and Himachal Pradesh regarding the development of 22 hydropower projects on the Build, Own, Operate, and Transfer (BOOT) basis. A team from Telangana’s Power Department had visited the sites of SELI HEP and MIYAR HEP projects.
