The Hindu : New Delhi News : `Tehri dam water may not reach Capital'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Dec 29, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

`Tehri dam water may not reach Capital'

By Anjali Dhal Samanta

NEW DELHI, DEC. 28. Despite massive public investment, the mammoth Tehri project might not be able to solve the Capital's water problems. Spelling more glitches in the supply of water to the Sonia Vihar water treatment plant, the flow to Delhi from the dam is "unlikely'' as the "design of the Tehri dam was badly flawed''.

This has been stated in an affidavit filed in the Supreme Court by Sureshwar D. Sinha in connection with a pending petition. Arguing for a minimum flow throughout the course of the Bhagirathi, the additional affidavit states that during the lean season the river does not flow for about 40 km. Instead, the waters of the river were being diverted through tunnels from Maneri Phase I and Phase II barrages all the way to the Dharasu powerhouse, thus disputing all claims that Maneri Phase I and Maneri Phase II on the Bhagirathi were "run of the river'' power projects.

"For about 15 km after the water is diverted in the tunnel, there is literally no river during the lean season. For the rest of the 25 km, it is the Assi Ganga that provides the limited flow till the Dharasu power house. So for about 40 km, the Bhagirathi does not flow,'' said Commander Sinha of Paani Morcha who recently conducted a survey in collaboration with five other non-government organisations in the Bhagirathi basin.

As per the affidavit, the flow data for the projects seems "over-estimated'' and the "low'' flow of the river is affecting the Tehri dam project. "The reservoir is not filling up despite the fact that three of the four tunnels of the dam have been closed. There is only a very small lake there right now. It seems that due to the sedimentary nature of the mountains, sub-surface flows have started and the river is flowing in its aquifers around and below the Tehri dam,'' Commander Sinha added.

Stating that the Tehri project was based on "false data and a faulty assessment of various factors'', he argues that the Tehri dam and other projects of the area should be re-cast in a realistic manner.

"Waters from this dam are not likely to flow to Delhi. It is essential that to maintain minimum flows, the smaller projects are all actually `run of the river' projects, ensuring that all work is stopped and frozen till such a re-casting of projects has been carried out. There should be a minimum flow of the Bhagirathi up to Devaprayag,' said Commander Sinha.

While the state of the Ganga bacteriophage could not be checked during the survey due to lack of facilities, the need for the same has also been emphasised.

Taking note of the additional affidavit, the Court has directed that a copy of the additional affidavit be sent to a High Power Committee to examine it and take it into consideration before filing its report on January 15, 2005, in connection with the pending petition.

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