{DUU-17} Tehri Dam Case 10-8-2006

Supreme Court asked to file the status report of R/R

Project Name: Tehri Dam Project (1000+1000+400 MW)

Rivers: Bhagirathi -Bhilangna

Agency: Tehri Hydro Development Corporation (THDC)

Environmental Clearance granted on 19-7-1990

The case of Tehri Dam filed by N. D. Jayal & Another vs. Union of India & Others heard by the Supreme Court.

The three judges bench, Justice Y K Sabharwal and Justices C K Thakker and P K Blalsubramanyam order to center govt. and THDC to file the status of rehabilitation under 790RL, after listening Adv. Sanjay Parikh counsel for N. D. Jayal and Senior adv. Colin Gonsalves for Kishor Upadhayay.

In the beginning Adv. Sanjay Parikh inform the apex court that there is an advertisement in the Hindi local newspaper by the Rehabilitation Department. Advertisement says that oustees those are coming under 790RL should leave their habitats and go to the new R/R sites or go the safe places. Adv. Parikh argued that it is clear from this advertisement that rehabilitation not completed.

Senior adv. Colin Gonsalves elegetes the authorities that he gave a list of oustees who did not get the gained rehabilitation benefits but no positive answer.

Counsel for State of Uttaranchal Adv. R N Trivedi said that we are ready to file the status of rehabilitation as it is completed and if there is any thing left state is willing to rehabilitate them. Center’s Senior Adv. B Dutta said Tehri Dam is generating 250MW now and total will be 1000MW later.

Apex court feels that power generation is fine but authorities also should do rehabilitation work as such.

With in two weeks center govt. and THDC file the status of rehabilitation under 790RL and petitioners can have done a survey and put before the court.

From Tehri:---

--Power generation was stopped because of dispute of rates between THDC and power grid.

--Reservoir level of Tehri Dam is 767RL.

--Power generation was held more then 3 days because of some technical fault.

--Vice-President Bhagirathi Management Board Mr. Phool Singh Bisht declared that board would also file an affidavit on status of rehabilitation.

Development for all, not only for few.

Vimalbhai