Waterman’s advice: Leave the Himalayas alone

Rajendra Singh, known around the country and the world as the Waterman of India, was in Uttarakhand in May last year and had warned that the rash of hydropower projects on the state’s many rivers were a “disaster waiting to happen”. The winner of the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award and the Stockholm Water Prize, also known as the Nobel Prize for water’, has for years been warning that no dams should be constructed on the rivers Alaknanda, Bhagirathi and Mandakani as they are located in areas that have steep slopes. Early morning on February 7, his worst fears came true. In this exclusive conversation with TOI’s Yeshika Budhwar, the Waterman talks about the tragedy, the possible immediate causes, and why carving out the mighty Himalayas is a bad idea.medium nocaption80844952How do you see the tragedy which struck Uttarakhand’s Chamoli recently?We had informed the authorities concerned and all stakeholders that no dams should be constructed on the rivers Alaknanda, Bhagirathi and Mandakani as there are very steep slopes in the area and it is an extremely eco-sensitive zone. This region is also particularly prone to earthquakes, flash floods, cloud breaks, breaking of glaciers and irregular rain which is not the case in others places like Aravali or the Western Ghats. However, the rampant construction continued. The recent disaster was inevitable. In fact, it was not a natural disaster, but a man-made calamity.Are hydro power projects the only way to generate electricity?Absolutely not. In fact, there are time tested alternatives like solar energy, which is cheaper to generate as compared to hydro power. The hydro-power projects are being undertaken only because the government has already taken approvals for them. The mafia working on these projects is so powerful that even the government has no say. In the Himalayas, hydro power projects are actually resulting in economic and ecological losses.medium nocaption80845050Why did the glacier break?When I say this disaster was man-made, I say it for a reason. When Tapovan dam was being constructed, there were blasts carried out for the construction of tunnels. The blasts led to cracks and consequent shifting of the glacier. The glacier started moving towards the dam and when it finally collided, the result was for everyone to see. If there had been no dam then the water would have flowed easily.When did you visit this area last and what were your takeaways?I have been visiting and working for the conservation of Himalayas. Since 1992, and even last year in May, when I was there, I knew that the construction of the dams was a disaster waiting to happen. Himalayas need to be left alone. We can also expect the all-weather road connecting the Char Dhams to also have similar results as it goes against this particular region’s nature. We are cutting into the Himalayas.medium nocaption80845130Despite many water bodies in the region, how come the scenery is so arid and we always hear about water crunch?Instead of the rampant construction, focus should have been on harvesting by making small check dams and planting vegetation so that water got seeped into the soil. Spring rejuvenation should have been undertaken so that waterfalls are revived. Essentially, the flow of water should have been slowed so that it gets collected at various spots and also helps in preventing soil erosion.Untitled Carousel 80761439Do you think lessons will be learnt from this disaster?Lessons can be learnt only when someone is willing to learn. No lessons were learnt from the Kedarnath floods and despite all the devastation three more dams are now proposed on the Mandakani river. In my opinion, the Himalayas need to be left alone. While official figures claim that a few hundred people are missing, my sources tell me that the number is in the thousands. The government needs to understand that the rampant construction is not only harming the nature but also causing loss of lives. Himalayas need to be made into destruction and disaster free zones.On the one side we talk about conservation, but on other VIP visits to the state, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s much-televised meditation break, encourage tourism. Does not that further harm the ecological balance?This government is working against the nature and if the prime minister wants to meditate here then perhaps he can also ensure that these places are only for pilgrimages and no hydro power projects are allowed. Focus on tourism can only cause harm.Untitled Carousel 80769505