By Arun Pratap Singh
Dehradun, 27 May: In a major boost to Uttarakhand’s power infrastructure, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has accorded in-principle forest clearance to the much-anticipated Sirkari Bhayol Rupsiabagar Hydroelectric Project. The approval has been granted by the Forest Advisory Committee (FAC), which reviewed the proposal for diversion of nearly 30 hectares (29.997 ha) of forest land to facilitate the development of the 120 MW project.
The decision follows sustained efforts by the state government, led by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, who had personally appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav for expediting the project. CM Dhami, while expressing his gratitude to the Centre, has stated that the project will play a vital role in addressing the state’s mounting power demands.
To be developed on the Gori Ganga River in Pithoragarh district, the hydroelectric project has been designed with significant ecological safeguards. Approximately one kilometre of the infrastructure will involve tunnel construction, and the majority of the project’s facilities are planned to be located underground, an approach aimed at minimising surface-level disturbance and environmental impact.
Importantly, the project site does not fall under any protected area or eco-sensitive zone, and very significantly, no displacement of local residents will be required. These are the factors that have traditionally led to public resistance and delays in similar hydro projects elsewhere in the country.
Once completed, the plant is expected to generate 529 million units of clean electricity annually, providing a reliable source of renewable energy for the state. According to energy planners, Uttarakhand’s electricity demand has surged by over 6 percent annually in recent years, driven by urbanisation, industrial growth, and increasing tourism footfalls.
It may be reminded here that hydropower remains a strategic component of India’s renewable energy roadmap. As per the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), India has an assessed hydroelectric potential of over 145 GW, of which only around 46 GW has been harnessed so far. Uttarakhand, with its riverine terrain and altitude variation, is seen as a key contributor to the national clean energy target of 500 GW by 2030 though, delays in clearances put a question mark over the actual potential of hydropower generation in Uttarakhand.
The Forest Advisory Committee has directed Uttarakhand to ensure adherence to environmental safeguards, including compensatory afforestation and monitoring of biodiversity. With this clearance, the project now moves one step closer to implementation, and detailed project reports, tenders, and ground mobilisation are expected to follow in the coming months.
The Sirkari Bhayol Rupsiabagar project is expected not only to augment power supply but also generate employment and boost regional development in Pithoragarh and surrounding hill districts.
