Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit has written to Union Water Resources Minister P. K. Bansal to fast track the Renuka Dam project. The Chief Minister has expressed concern that further stalling of the project will jeopardise the city's water security. The dam has been proposed on the Giri River in Himachal Pradesh and is expected to provide Delhi 275 million gallons of water a day.

Delhi has been pressing the Centre for its intervention to secure clearances for the Renuka Dam project, claiming it is the only source of water for the city's future use. “There are limited sources of water for the city; and Renuka Dam is the primary source that assures water for the future needs.

When the Union environment ministry gave the GMR Group its go-ahead to the Alaknanda hydroelectric project in Uttarakhand three weeks ago, it invited suspicion from non-profit organisations about a possible underhand deal. For, the project was approved despite a recommendation against it by none other than a statutory body, the forest advisory committee (FAC) of the ministry.

The Kaushalya Dam being constructed on Ghaggar river in Panchkula at a cost of Rs 217 crore will soon be made functional. Work on the project started in 2008 and it was to become operational by August 2010. The delay in construction has led to escalation of cost in project. “We are hopeful of making the dam functional soon,” said an officer at the Irrigation Department. The dam will provide drinking water to Panchkula and also check flash floods.

After Union Urban Development Minister Kamal Nath slammed Delhi’s Master Plan-2021 as disconnected from ground realities and in need for revision, officials behind the Water Master Plan for Delhi-2021 are in a quandary over issues like adequate water supply and population density in the coming years.

Will the ever growing Capital city bear the brunt of delays in commissioning of projects like the Renuka Dam? Will unauthorised use of water for non-potable needs leave Delhi parched? Officials of Delhi's water utility are worried by the developments that pose a “threat” to the city's water security.

While the clamour for scrapping the Renuka Dam gains momentum, Delhi is worried it may not get water for its teeming millions from “the only source of more water”.

Focus On Displacement & Loss Of Green Cover
New Delhi: So far Delhiites have been concerned with the refusal of environment clearance to the Renuka dam as that means a serious water crisis for the city. Now antidam voices generating from the Nahan district in Himachal Pradesh, home to the project, have finally emerged in the capital, protesting against the massive displacement of people, loss of green cover and submergence of highly fertile agricultural land.

Noted environmentalist Sunita Narain said on Sunday that climate change and pollution will affect the hills in a bigger way and for this, Himalayan states like Himachal Pradesh should invent a new model of sustainable development. Hailing the state’s initiatives like rainwater harvesting for every household and complete ban on polythene carry bags, Narain suggested that the ban should be extended to packets of potato chips and mineral water bottles as well.

Green tribunal stays land acquisition process

The Rs 3,600-crore Renuka Dam project in Sirmaur district hit another roadblock today when the National Green Tribunal passed an interim order directing Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (HPPCL) to stay the entire acquisition process under the Land Acquisition Act.

It has also restrained the public sector undertaking from carrying out any construction activity in both non-forest and forest land and from announcing the award of compensation.

During Regional Consultation on Approach to 12th Plan, organised at Delhi Secretariat.
The need for the northern States to cooperate in the development of infrastructure for meeting the basic needs of the people relating to housing, water, power and transportation was stressed during the Regional Consultation on Approach to 12th Five Year Plan, which was organised at the Delhi Secretariat.

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