The National Green Tribunal today sought response from the government on a plea challenging the construction of the 300 MW Lakhwar multi-purpose project being built by Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam

The ministry of environment finds itself in an embarrassing situation with its own 11-member expert panel, led by Ravi Chopra, questioning how the Lakhwar-Vyasi hydro-project was given clearance in

It appears that no lessons have been learnt from the Uttarakhand tragedy as the Uttarakhand government has been pushing full steam ahead with the Lakhwar dam project on the Yamuna river.

Significantly even after Supreme Court directive not to grant clearance for hydroelectric project in the State until further orders

The State Government is seeking forest clearance for the 300 MW Lakhwar hydroelectric power project even after the Supreme Court on August 13 directed the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) and the State Government not to grant clearance for hydroelectric power projects in the State until further orders.

It is a multipurpose project, which would also provide irrigation and drinking water facilities to Delhi and other northern states such as Rajasthan, Haryana and UP.

Says river’s catchment area is fragile and falls under Zone V seismic belt

Citing the fragility and seismic nature of the Yamuna catchment as one of the reasons for not going ahead with the construction of dams, a Delhi-based non-government organisation, Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan, has written to the Planning Commission to refrain from funding construction of the proposed Lakhwar Byasi hydroelectric dam project over the river.