1.
National Conference on Geography of Change
Environmental and Social Impacts of
Hydro-Electric Dams in Chamba District
of Himachal Pradesh
By:
Banjar – 175123 District Kullu
Himachal Pradesh (India)
Hasrat Arjjumend Tel: 01903-200202, 200201,
Senior Fellow 09418133427, 09910188948
Fax: +91-01903-222257
E-mail: info@grassrootsinstitute.in
Website: www.grassrootsinstitute.in 1

2.
Big Dams of India:
Tehri Dam on Bhagirathi River, Tehri in Uttarakhand
Environmental and Social Impacts of Hydro-Electric Dams | By H. Arjjumend | Grassroots Institute

3.
Big Dams of India:
Bhakra Dam on Sutlej River, Punjab/Himachal Pradesh
Environmental and Social Impacts of Hydro-Electric Dams | By H. Arjjumend | Grassroots Institute

4.
Big Dams of India:
Idukki Dam on Periyar River, Kerala
Environmental and Social Impacts of Hydro-Electric Dams | By H. Arjjumend | Grassroots Institute

5.
Introduction:
 In 1947, there were 300 dams
 In 2000, figure roses to 4000
 Today, there are 4300 dams
 After 1980s, the controversies
erupted on issues of large dams
 Large dams in India are
estimated to have submerged
about 37500 km2 land area
 About 10 million people
displaced or affected
 Adverse impacts of dams have
spawned resistance movements
Environmental and Social Impacts of Hydro-Electric Dams | By H. Arjjumend | Grassroots Institute

6.
Methodology:
 Study Area:
 Chamba district, bordered by
Pathankot, Ladakh (J&K),
Lahaul & Bara Banghal, Kangra
(HP), and Gurdaspur (Punjab)
 Average elevation - 1,006 m
(3,301 ft)
 Longitude - 76°12’06” E to
76°14’52” E
 Latitude - 32°44’14” N to
32°45’43” N
 Chamba district lies among 55
most backward districts of India
 Paper based on exploratory
study
Environmental and Social Impacts of Hydro-Electric Dams | By H. Arjjumend | Grassroots Institute

7.
Methodology:
 Research Methods:
 Participant Observation
 Questionnaire to collect data
and record the perception of
the affected local people
 Jadera and Sillagraht
Panchyat of Chamba were
sampled for interviewing 35
respondents from each gram
panchayat.
 Interviews of some key
respondents belonging to
resistance movement
 Review of several recent
publications
Environmental and Social Impacts of Hydro-Electric Dams | By H. Arjjumend | Grassroots Institute

8.
Dams in Himachal Pradesh:
 Himachal Pradesh - 3 main mountain ranges:
1. Dhauladhar, 2. Pir Panjal, 3. Great Himalayan
 Hydropower generation potential - 23,000 MW (present 7000 )
 401 projects are in different stages of installation on 5 river
basins i.e. Satluj, Beas, Ravi, Chenab & Yamuna
 Rivers and streams are being diverted from one valley into
another, with serious impacts. E.g. 800 MW Parbati-II Project
(Kullu), Kashang projects at 3,000 m (10,000 feet)
Projects close to China border
 From origin of Satluj river
(Lake Rakshastal in China) to
Kinnaur district (7 km stretch),
water runs from one tunnel to
another tunnel (run-of-river
projects)
Environmental and Social Impacts of Hydro-Electric Dams | By H. Arjjumend | Grassroots Institute

9.
Dams in Chamba District:
 NHPC dam was first project in 1980
 3 major power projects: Chimera-1, Chimera-2, Chimera-3,
Chimera-3 in Ravi basin
 117 mini/micro project: MOU for 22 signed; IA for 42 signed
 Hul-I is micro-hydroelectric project to produce 3.8 MW on Hul
Nala, a tributary of Ravi river in Saal Valley. But actually is of 5
MW, which created debates on micro- classification.
 Contractor: M/s Hul Hydro Power, subsidiary of Astha
Projects (India) Ltd., Hyderbad
Environmental and Social Impacts of Hydro-Electric Dams | By H. Arjjumend | Grassroots Institute

10.
Environmental Impacts of Hul-I Project:
 On 28 km length of Saal River 7 mini & micro hydel projects
are proposed
 Dams are said to adversely impact the ecology, geology, socio-
economics and culture
 Hul-I will disturb approx. 5 km or ¼th of catchment of stream
 Oak forest managed by
agro-pastoralist Gujjars &
Gaddis
 Livestock based local
economy of pastoralists
will be affected severely
 As against official figure
of 243, about 2000 trees will
be cut down
Environmental and Social Impacts of Hydro-Electric Dams | By H. Arjjumend | Grassroots Institute

11.
Environmental Impacts of Hul-I Project:
 Once the construction commences, the resulting disturbance
will influence the wild animals to venture into crop fields
causing damages
 Most damaging effect is the diversion of water, impacting
seriously the livelihoods of upstream villages
 People of Saal Valley are
dependent on Hul Nala for
drinking water, irrigation,
fishery & water mills
(gharats)
 Drinking & irrigation
water schemes serving 10
gram panchayats will be
affected
Environmental and Social Impacts of Hydro-Electric Dams | By H. Arjjumend | Grassroots Institute

12.
Environmental Impacts of Hul-I Project:
 Discharge of sources of drinking water supply schemes to
villages of Sillagharat, Jadera, Paluhien, Sungal and Kaila
Panchayats has already been reduced
 Lift Irrigation and Pipeline Scheme to serve from Silla Khud
to Koni-ki-Behi gram panchayats will become redundant
 With changing climates,
water sources are fast drying
up. Saal River is only
regular water source for
villages of 8 gram panchyats
and Chamba town.
 Hul-I project can kill Hul
stream and put present &
future uses of water in
jeopardy.
Environmental and Social Impacts of Hydro-Electric Dams | By H. Arjjumend | Grassroots Institute

13.
Socio-Economic Impacts of Hul-I Project:
 6000 people to be affected by Hul-I
 1000 people of Jadera and
Sillagraht panchyats only
 Gujjar and Gaddi nomadic
pastoralists are main inhabitants
 Livelihood and social impacts
would be devastating
 50 families have fishing licence on
Hul stream; about same number
fish with no license
 Around 41 water mills will be
forced to close down; 1 water mill
supports livelihood of 5 families
 500 households will pay double for
grinding of flour
Environmental and Social Impacts of Hydro-Electric Dams | By H. Arjjumend | Grassroots Institute

14.
Socio-Economic Impacts of Hul-I Project:
 Benefits of these power plants will not be going to the
community suffering the consequences
Power will be sold to
private companies and
distributed all over India
for an incredible profit
 Project proponents are
paying a small amount as
one time compensation,
but which is no answer
to sustained regular
income over the years
Environmental and Social Impacts of Hydro-Electric Dams | By H. Arjjumend | Grassroots Institute

15.
People’s Resistance against Hul-I Project:
 Saal Ghaati Bachao Sangharsh Morcha & Himalaya Niti
Abhiyan opposing the Hul-I & II projects since 2003
 Opposition is due to
adverse impacts on
forests, irrigation, local
livelihoods, drinking
water supply schemes
and environment.
 Jadera Gram Panhcayat
has set forth 4
resolutions to the Central
Government denying
continuation of Hul-I &
II projects.
Environmental and Social Impacts of Hydro-Electric Dams | By H. Arjjumend | Grassroots Institute

16.
People’s Resistance against Hul-I Project:
 Gujjar and Gaddi tribes agitating against Hul-I from diverting
the entire flow of Hul stream on which their lives depend.
 Series of activities
demonstrating
people’s resistance
and struggle against
the dam construction
are illustrated
chronologically in
Annexure-C of paper
[16.11.1996 to
04.10.2012].
Environmental and Social Impacts of Hydro-Electric Dams | By H. Arjjumend | Grassroots Institute

17.
Conclusion:
 Large-scale negative impacts of dams and inequitable
distribution of risks have caused the mobilization and resistance
of affected people in the country especially after 1980
 Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) of Central Government
appears not to minimize the environmental & livelihood impacts
of even mini & micro hydel projects in fragile mountain
ecosystems.
Environmental and Social Impacts of Hydro-Electric Dams | By H. Arjjumend | Grassroots Institute

18.
Conclusion:
 Micro hydel projects do not seem de facto micro because of
their adverse effects on ecosystems and local inhabitants
 Despite perpetual resistance of nomadic pastoralists led by
Saal Ghati Bachao Sangharsh Morcha and Himalaya Niti
Abhiyan the state government is adamant to continue the Hul-I
Project in Chamba district.
Environmental and Social Impacts of Hydro-Electric Dams | By H. Arjjumend | Grassroots Institute

19.
Conclusion:
 People’s rights to water use must be recognized and respected
on priority basis.
 State should also review Micro-Hydro-Project Policy giving
impetus to the impacts on people’s livelihoods, environment,
rangelands, irrigation, drinking water and other
local/traditional uses of water.
Environmental and Social Impacts of Hydro-Electric Dams | By H. Arjjumend | Grassroots Institute

20.
Thank you very much
We appeal for collaborations
Environmental and Social Impacts of Hydro-Electric Dams | By H. Arjjumend | Grassroots Institute

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info@grassrootsinstitute.in
director@grassrootsinstitute.in
www.grassrootsinstitute.in
www.grassroots.org.in 22