Hydropower projects that alter natural river regimes often dismantle traditional, sustainable livelihoods like operating watermills (gharaats) and artisanal fishing. The allure of temporary construction jobs cannot compensate for the irreversible erasure of self-sufficient, eco-friendly mountain economies. Comprehensive impact assessments must rigorously account for the long-term socio-economic and cultural fallout of dewatering natural riverbeds. Genuine Himalayan development must protect and strengthen existing sustainable micro-economies rather than replacing them with precarious, short-term employment.
Hydropower
Santa’s Eternal Dam vs Banta’s Dam with a Blocked Throat
Santa is admiring a picture of a massive concrete dam, its wall holding back a vast, beautiful blue lake. “Look at this magnificent structure, Banta!” he says with awe. “Built with so much concrete and steel, it’s as strong as the mountain itself!” “A monument to our nation’s progress!” “It will provide electricity for our […]
The River in the Raised Bed
Poor debris management, large infrastructure projects and dams are resulting in riverbed aggradation in Himalayan rivers resulting in increased flood vulnerability of river side habitations.