New tenders have been placed in the market for damming the Sarju + Eastern Ramganga + Kosi in Kumaon and Nayar in Garhwal. All these are rain fed breeding rivers for the Kali and Ganges, some would say the main breeding streams for these river systems.
The Environmental Clearances seem to be in place but not in public domain. Fish Ladders - I was told that the Fishery Department has given their view - to put grass carp and catfish in the dam to promote fishery ! Hello Dum Dammers !!! See you in court.
There is of course the age old plan to dam Kali as well which thanks to the Maoists has been resisted all these years, one side of the river being Nepal.
But the Indian dammers dont give up - Arunachal has got hit hard, so much so that Assam is getting flooded now because of the dam acitivities and people are up in arms. Species are bing lost in the tropical forests - home to animals and birds which have not been documented as yet. As there are no people or people without voices / nude tribals you know-no culture-government and dammer speak, dammers are having a field day.
The fact is dams have no role in flood control - flood plains and vegetation do the trick but who makes money of this. So people dont get fooled by flood control stories.
The Kosi flowing into Bihar is causing havoc because of the canals being silted over and the river becoming too shallow to offload all that himlayan silt. Where does the water go if the flood plans dont exist. The indians blame the neps and the war of words continue. Some say build the dams in nepal to control the waters - hey Bangladesh has been saying that to the indians all along.
But big industry continues to fool the public. National Hydro Power Corporation has internationally the worst environmental record and it continues to spearhead the dam business in India.
And now the dammers want to go international, Seti in Karnali river system nepal - tropical forests called the wild west of nepal - hope the Maoists stay in power and stop this. Heard some voices from Premchanda that all indian projects on hold. Whats good for the fish is good for me.
Long live Chairman Mao - evening toast by those who have fished the waters of Kali and Karnali all these years. Its the only reason the dammers have stayed away - otherwise goodbye to GOLD.
And now the life time achievement award for saving Himalyan Mahseer goes to Premachanda and the maoists of Nepal - for keeping the fish alive in the Kali river and Nepal rivers.
May they stay in power and keep the DAM dammers away.
|