Centre de-freezes dam project in Himachal.

The Narendra Modi government has decided to revive the Renuka dam project in Himachal Pradesh, rejected by the UPA regime as one that would cause massive environmental and social loss.

The benefits from this ambitious project are directed at Delhi: 275 million gallons of water daily, a fourth of the city’s existing supply, and a boost for the ruling party in assembly polls slated later this year.

But it would come at a cost: 1.5 lakh trees would be felled — according to the Forest Advisory Committee (FAC), to which the proposal has been sent — and 32 villages with a population of 2,334 affected.

The committee, under the Union environment ministry, grants clearances for diversion of forestland for non-forest purposes.

'The Renuka dam project would be high on the agenda of the next FAC meeting this month,' a ministry functionary said, adding that it would help meet Delhi’s water shortfall. According to a Delhi Jal Board (DJB) report, the city's demand for water in 2012 was 1,150 million gallons a day but supply stood at 850 million gallons.

The ministry is expected to take a final call on the project in the next few months. This is the second big dam project the NDA government is pushing after giving the go-ahead last month to raising the height of the Narmada dam in Gujarat to 138.68 metres from the present 121.92 metres.

Hindustan Times