Ministry of Environment and Forests may ask hydel projects on Ganga to run at lower capacities

NEW DELHI: The Ministry of Environment and Forests is considering asking hydel projects on the Ganga to run at up to half their capacities in the interest of the flow of the sacred river. A movement against the environmental pollution and impact of the flow of the river from dams projects, led by fasting sadhus, has been raising its pitch.

"We are exploring the legality of such a measure," said Environment and Forests Minister Jayanthi Natarajan. The ministry believes in the interest of the 'Aviral dhara' or continuous flow of the Ganges. It could call on the environmental protection act and ask all such projects to cut down on operations.

According to the ministry, this could impact 70 such projects: (17 constructed, 14 under construction and 39 that are in the pipeline). States complaining of power shortages are also likely to resist such measures. Ministry says that it is not just hydroelectricity that claims its share of the river. A series of canals also draw away water for agricultural purposes. And domestic effluents, which can be controlled at state levels, greatly contribute to polluting the Ganges.