Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal hardened his stand on the Rs 3,300 crore Renuka dam on Monday, asserting that Himachal Pradesh would not sacrifice its forests and damage its mountains to implement the project on its soil, which is meant to supply drinking water to Delhi.

SHIMLA, 18 OCT: The Rs 3,000 crore Renuka Dam project hanging fire for the last two decades has received a fresh set-back. The ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) has turned down the request for using about 775 hectares of forest land and felling of 1.5 lakh trees for its construction.

Himachal* Renuka dam, Tidong hydel plant, cement units among projects awaiting environment clearance

The Renuka dam is the latest in a series of projects in Himachal Pradesh that have been either scrapped or delayed due to environmental concerns.

The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has rejected the proposal of the Himachal government to use 775 hectares of forestland for the Renuka Dam project in Sirmaur district of Himachal Pradesh.

The project was categorised as one of national importance. Once completed, it was supposed to provide 275 million gallons of potable water per day to Delhi.

Ravish Tiwari

While the severe rainfall deficit in the upper Yamuna basin last year has been handsomely compensated this year, it has come with a rider of its own.

Maintaining that there was no justification for harnessing water sources from far-off places like Himachal Pradesh to cater to the needs of the national capital, prominent social activists, environmentalists and intellectuals of Delhi have urged Chief Minister Sheila Dixit to withdraw from the Renuka Dam project.

SYED ASIM ALI
NEW DELHI

The construction of the Renuka Dam, which is expected to be a major source of drinking water in the city, is likely to take at least five more years. And even then, the city will receive 15 percent less water from its allocated quota as that amount is likely to get evaporated by the time it reaches Delhi.

May 14: Amidst reports of protests at the proposed Renuka dam, Delhi chief secretary Rakesh Mehta will be leaving for Himachal Pradesh to hold talks to resolve the issue.

The Delhi government is funding the construction of the Renuka dam to ensure that the capital gets enough potable water to meet its demands.

Dam Will Supply Delhi With 275 MGD Daily

Raising serious doubts over techno-economic feasibility of the Renuka Dam and pointing out glaring infirmities in its environment impact assessment (EIA), the report of the People

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