Communities in Uttarakhand have had little relief this monsoon season. The barrage of rain has cut off roads, destroyed homes and killed dozens.
But at the root of the repeated disasters lies an infrastructure problem: Hydro electric dams. Every year reports emerge that hydroelectric dams are aggravating floods by bottlenecking water behind a build up of sediment.
Now, the Ministry of Water Resources and the Ministry of Environment and Forests are gearing up to approach the Supreme Court in favour of dams. The Ministries would have conditions, though, and would ensure the flow of the Ganga is not interrupted.
Dams present an environmental catch-22. On the one hand, they are a source of renewable energy — a necessary resource in a world weaning itself from a reliance on fossil fuels. On the other hand, they can have devastating impacts on river ecosystems, especially for people and animals who live downstream.
After the devastating floods of 2013, which killed thousands, 24 proposed hydroelectric projects in Uttarakhand came under scrutiny.
Initially the Ministry of Water Resources raised concerns about the environmental impact of these projects. But the ministry now changed its stance.
A common affidavit to be submitted by the water and environment ministries is expected to encourage the Supreme Court to give six of those projects the green light. Significant investments have already been placed in each project.
There are around 70 proposed hydroelectric projects proposed in the hill states.
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