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Why we are resisting Hydropower projects in our region?

Nathpa-Jhakri_satluj_map.jpeg

Kinnaur is one of the most exploited regions for hydropower electricity generation across India. Along the Zangti Kulang, the valleys of Kinnaur downstream, contain most of these Hydropower projects. Destruction in the form of landslides, drying up of water sources, deforestation etc has been a norm with Hydropower projects so far. In addition, they have a lack of public accountability, widespread corruption, environmental violations, and a dismissive attitude towards the local population and their concerns.
As is, the region in which the Jangi Thopan Hydropower Project is proposed is highly vulnerable to landslides, droughts, and soil erosion, and (as opposed to the lush green valleys of the downstream regions of Sutlej) the vegetation cover is scattered and sparse. There are many rare and endangered species of fauna and flora such as Chilgoza which are mostly found within our region. 
Our livelihood, cultural practices and daily survival are deeply interconnected with Jal, Jungle and Jameen. For drinking water and irrigation we are dependent on natural water bodies such as ‘Naagas ti’. Our forests provide us with firewood, grazing lands for our cattle, medicinal herbs and much more. Our rituals and festivals celebrate the sacred mountains, water bodies, plants and animals. Hydropower companies exploit our land and rivers, cut down forests and show no regard for our belief systems and cultural practices. 

“We don’t know when our ancestors came to the village and settled here. But we are so connected to this land. This land has nurtured several generations of our people. Wherever we are today, whatever we have achieved, it is because of our land. Before apples were farmed Chilgoza was the main source of sustenance. The company will tell you we will do things scientifically and offer you benefits, but it is our land and rivers they are after. Nothing can replace our Naagas ti (spring waters), our irrigation channels, our forests, and our land. Whatever they offer, it is worth nothing.”
Upesh Negi, Rarang village  

Impacts of climate change are being felt across the Himalayan regions and the world. Hydropower projects further exacerbate the risk of disasters that are caused in the Himalayan region due to erratic weather patterns such as high rainfall, cloud bursts etc. Inadequate disaster management and environmental protection plans have been experienced several times such as Flash floods caused by mismanagement. Furthermore, construction-related activities in mega projects themselves contribute to temperature and rainfall shifts within the region

"The area surrounding our village is cold and dry. If such a huge reservoir is built on Satluj the moisture and rainfall susceptibility will change dramatically. A rain shower of half an hour had caused huge damage in the village in the past. What will happen once the reservoir is built? The “company wallas” have hollowed the rest of Kinnaur. We don’t want it in our region." 
Dinesh Negi, Kanam village 

Construction activities bring large migrant populations, and makeshift accommodations and restrict the mobility of women, shepherds and children in the forests and other places. We have already witnessed exploitative conditions for the labourers (migrant and local population) in most past power projects in Kinnaur. There have been instances of conflicts and violence aggravated by the corrupt practices and social evils created by Hydropower projects.

Goals and action

  1. Connecting people to the struggle and uniting masses to resist the forceful implementation of Hydropower projects across Kinnaur.

  2. Increase accountability of existing Hydropower projects in Kinnaur ( illegal activities such as illicit dumping, water release without warnings etc. that impact the daily lives of people and harm their property must be accounted for.)

  3. Building continuous engagement with the people and communities impacted by Hydropower projects. We have been organising visits to impacted villages across Kinnaur, workshops in the six impacted villages of Jangi Thopan, colleges and university seminars etc. to raise issues related to the rights of people within different spaces.

  4. Creating dialogues across Kinnaur and outside Kinnaur to forge solidarities, learn from each other and extend support. 

  5. Highlighting the relationship with Jal, Jungle and Zameen. Encourage critical thinking within people. 

  6. Listen to specific issues and insights from different sections of society such as women, community elders etc to enrich our perspectives and understanding.   

  7. Understand and highlight how issues of development are related to other problems across Kinnaur. 

  8. Create engagements, put pressure and enable our political representatives to speak for the people.

  9. Sensitively talk about social fragmentations and injustices within Kinnaur that divide us as a society and weaken a united struggle. 

  10. Build processes and ways for collective action that are transparent, decentralized and focus on empowering people. 

We knew from within that the company should not come. We didn’t know much but we knew it would harm us although we knew of the harm superficially. When we received the paper from R.S teytey (grandfather) it was written there that if the company comes forests will be chopped, water will leak and society will undergo certain changes. There is no treaty for water. What will be the legal implications and political impacts etc? But we didn’t have substantial proof for it. When we visited areas damaged due to the coming of companies we could see it. We could learn how the company came and we could compare what is happening in our area and we were being fooled.  clearly that this is how we are being fooled. And visually we could show it to the world… through social media also. Landslides have happened, houses are sinking, and people have not been compensated. 
We are seeing numbers but we can’t make people understand or see the impact.  And if we look at it practically everyone has different interests. Some people may be more concerned about wildlife, some about medicinal plants and some about culture. A lot of things are interrelated and important to us. Through workshops, we could talk about them be it  FRA or water springs. We get to interact with more people and learn from them. So far we have tried to organise meetings and workshops in different areas of the six impacted panchayats since more people from the hosting villages tend to attend.
Sunder Singh, Khadura village. 

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