A run of the river project is of two types, one that requires a long tunnel and the other that requires a huge reservoir. The river is diverted through a tunnel and the water falls on a turbine from a height, generating electricity. In a reservoir-run of the river project, the tunnel is small as the volume of water is responsible for generating electricity. The water is released back into

The Ganga is said to have special chemical qualities, which accord it its purity. High concentration of calcium and magnesium is found in the water, says a study carried out by researchers of Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi.

Power-generating companies can get a minimum fixed sum irrespective of how much electricity they produce Capacity Index (CI) = declared capacity

A series of hydropower projects on the Bhagirathi and the Alaknanda may reduce the Ganga to a trickle. But project proponents will still be making money.

Both Alaknanda and Bhagirathi are glacier-fed rivers and the hydrology of these rivers is directly impacted by climate change. The rate at which the glacier is melting has to be a consideration for the running of these projects.

The debate