SC directs to relocate Alaknanda hydropower project

The apex court directed the government to consider the relocation of the Alaknanda hydropower project citing the security of people's lives. The court further said that it is not asking the state to abandon the project but consider relocating it to minimise the disaster.

New Delhi:The Chief Justice of India (CJI), SA Bobde, while hearing the case of Alaknanda Hydro Power company limited, remarked that the apex court's duty is to see that lives are not endangered and directed to relocate the project.

Asking the government to consider the relocation of the Alaknanda project, Bobde said that he is not asking the state to abandon the project but consider relocating it to minimise the disaster. He observed that there will be impact wherever it is set up but it should not be as disastrous as this.

Agreeing with the requirement of power the CJI said, "There is a need for power stations and also there is a need to protect the lives of people. You may consider relocating the power project. There is a natural tendency of states to grab a project, that may be good from their point of view but that may not necessarily be good."

Giving the example of Kerala, he asked the advocates if they had seen the report which highlighted the effect of illegal sand mining.

He explained that illegal sand mining eroded the river bed due to which it goes into one place and fills up.

The bench comprising of CJI SA Bobde, Justice Surya Kant and Justice BR Gavai gave 4 weeks to the government to reply and the matter will be heard after that.

It is to be noted that Alaknanda Hydro Power Company is developing the 330MW Alaknanda (formerly Shrinagar) hydroelectric project on the Alaknanda River in Uttarakhand.