Having 4300 large dams already constructed and many more in pipeline, India is one of world's most prolific dam-builders. Large dams in India are estimated to have submerged about 37500 km2 land area and displaced tens of millions of people. Himachal Pradesh is proceeding towards power-surplus state and there are as many as 401 projects of different magnitude in different stages of installation on 5 river basins of the state i.e. Satluj, Beas, Ravi, Chenab and Yamuna. State has identified its hydropower generation potential at 23,000 MW. The ecological devastation caused by various projects at lower altitudes of Himachal Pradesh has been alarming; while the prospect of what will happen to the fragile alpine ecosystem is frightening. These projects will change the microclimate that will result in accelerated melting of the snow and glaciers at high altitudes. Like other river basins of the state, hydro-electric power generation in Chamba district was started in 1980s, with 117 mini & micro power projects in different stages of execution at present. Having the special focus on Hul projects the present paper explores the impacts of various dams on environment and local people in Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh. About 6000 local people are being affected by Hul-I project only. The consequences to nature and wildlife will also prove disastrous. As of now, the wildlife such as deer, bear, goat, tiger and peacock do not enter the fields of farmers. Deforestation and soil erosion are even more devastating. Making the situation even more absurd is that the benefits of these power plants do not go to the community suffering the consequences. Gujjar and Gaddi tribes in the state of Himachal Pradesh have been agitating against 4.5 MW hydropower plant from diverting the entire flow of the Hul stream, on which their lives depend. These communities have for more than two decades protected and preserved the forests from which Hul stream originates. The project’s pipeline is said to destroy about 2000 of slow-growing oak trees. Livelihood and social impacts of poorly planned mini-hydel projects can be thus devastating, as exemplified in this case.

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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