Himadhara, an environment action group, has opposed the 775 MW Luhri hydropower project on Satluj River and asked Union minister Jayanthi Natrajan not to grant environment clearance to the project.
The activist organization has written to the environment minister after an expert appraisal committee (EAC) on river valley projects on November 23 recommended that environment clearance be accorded to the Luhri project. Nidhi Agrawal of Himdhara said that there are series of projects on Satluj River and Luhri hydropower project can cause a huge impact on the entire basin.
Nidhi Agrawal said that the Luhri project will be the final nail in the coffin of Satluj as it would alter the riverine ecology, climatic conditions and landscape of the valley irreversibly. Agrawal claimed that the details of the 78 villages to be affected by the 9m wide, 38-km-long twin-tunnels were not even included in the environment impact assessment report.
Himdhara claimed that there could be serious impact on local environment and livelihoods. Satluj Bachao Jan Sangharsh Samiti (SBJSS), an organization of 78 villages in the project impact zone, is also opposing the large hydropower project.
