(a) whether the report submitted by Wildlife Institute of India (WII)
has recommended the abandoning of the project of setting up dams on the
Alaknanda and Bhagirathi rivers in the State of the Uttarakhand;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and
(c) the reaction of the Government thereto?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT & FORESTS
(SHRIMATI JAYANTHI NATARAJAN)
(a) to (c) The report submitted by the Wildlife Institute of India
recommended certain additional regulating measures to compensate or mitigate
direct impacts and indirect impacts of 17 already commissioned hydro power
projects and 14 under-construction hydro power projects in Alaknanda and
Bhagirathi basins.The report submitted by the Wildlife Institute of India
has however, reported that out of the total of 39 additional proposed hydro
power projects considered in the Cummulative Environmental Impact Assessment
(CEIA) in Alaknanda and Bhagirathi Basins, 24 projects may significantly impact
the biodiversity values in the two sub-basins. The said report is presently
under examination of the Central Government.