Direct Negative Impacts of Micro-Hydel Projects on Poor Farmers – A Farmers’ Perspective
Ramesh Ganeriwal, a Farmer
Unknown to most, Micro-Hydel projects in the hilly states like Himachal Pradesh are doing enormous harm to farmers in terms of either completely taking away the irrigation water or in some instances, changing the ever-flowing water schedules to that which suit the upstream power producers, thereby causing a great deal of disruption to the farming operations. This paper describes the plight of farmers, who are too poor and unorganized without the wherewithal to obtain redressal for the gross injustice that these relatively recent water diversions are inflicting on the farmers who have enjoyed the rights to irrigation waters for generations. The nodal agency designated by the H.P. Government, Himurja is less than forthcoming in providing requested information by the aggrieved parties to be able to monitor the compliance of stringent environmental and other norms imposed on the project builders and the operators.
Even the “run-of-the-river” projects, which every one imagines to be innocuous to ecology and human population, the water diversion causes dry or much lowered water level stretches of rivers/nallah’s that take away traditional water sources from the age-old water channels [called ‘kuhls’ in the local parlance], thus causing severe hardships on poor and marginal farmers. The 15% water “rule” that is supposed to be left in the river by the power producers is arbitrary and serious debate is the urgent need of the hour so that appropriate amount of water is provided in accordance with the irrigation water needs of the farmers – otherwise, the farmers are literally left “high and dry” without their day in the court! prospects of losing their standing wheat and other crops and have made an urgent appeal to the DC, Kangra for the immediate restoration of their water while the matter is taken up in appropriate forums. The following pictures show the river when the river was in full flow followed by a picture of dried “kuhl”
1. Introduction
2. Water Diversion Hardships imposed on the Farmers
3. Evasion of Statutory Information to be provided under the RTI Act
4. Efficacy of the 15% “Rule”
5. Conclusions
3.Evasion of Statutory Information to be provided under the RTI Act
This subsection illustrates an example of how a State Government agency, namely Himurja, stonewalls and evades request for legitimate information under RTI act. Exhibit I at the end of the paper shows the original request by a concerned social activist for the above project during its construction phase. Exhibit II shows the first response of Himurja to this request wherein the agency essentially denied this request under the guise of this information being “3rd Party information” requiring the consent of the company. Exhibit II shows the stern follow up letter by the applicant saying that most of the information requested is public in nature because it deals with diversion of public goods. Finally, Exhibit III shows the final response where Himurja partially (and reluctantly) provided partial information while awaiting the consent of the project owner.
Such evasion clearly puts a question mark on Government’s sincerity in allowing independent as well as the aggrieved parties to be able to monitor the compliance of the norms that are imposed on the project builders to safeguard environmental and other sensitive issues.
4. Efficacy of the 15% “Rule
In the official circles concerned with issues of permitting water diversion for hydel projects, there appears to be a belief that there is a “15% rule” whereby the project builder is supposed to leave 15% of the water volume in the river for downstream users and can lift as much as 85% of the water.
The efficacy of this “rule” needs serious debate and consideration in light of the fact that most of the times, the downstream users are farmers who have enjoyed the rights to irrigation waters for generations. In the interest of fairness and justice, it is absolutely important a serious debate, involving all stake-holders takes place where all aspects of this conflict of water use is brought to the forth. On the face of it, it is clear that 15% water is not adequate for the farmers to maintain their traditional cropping patterns. Further, it must be investigated what the exact definition of this water quantum is – for example, if it is taken to be the average of the water flow over a year, then, it will absolutely not serve the farmers because the irrigation requirements are concentrated over certain time periods in the crop cycles whereas there is lot of overflow of water during rainy season for example. It would seem fair that the consideration of this matter begins with the actual water requirement of the farmer and then guidelines are developed to provide the “surplus” water to the power project. In these deliberations, it may evolve that there are potential water conservation techniques that will provide more water for power generation but the burden of financing and implementing those measures must not fall n the farmer, but rather, this investment should be Government’s and Power Generator’s responsibility.
5.Conclusions
Even mini- and micro-hydel projects, which were considered to be relatively harmless to the humans and ecology, are causing great deal of hardship and injustice to the farmers. The rules and regulations framed for diverting water for power generation are flawed and are not implemented and monitored properly. It is the urgent need of the hour for urgent actions at all levels of the Government so that the poor and marginal farmers are driven into further hardship and displacement.
Exhibit I The Original Request for Information under RTI
To
The Public Information Officer
Himurja
SDA Complex,
Urja Bhawan,
Kasumpti, Shimla-171009
Subject: To seek all information regarding Gaj II (Project #84 on Himurja list on the internet site)Raheja Hydel Power Pvt. Ltd. on Gaj River, Village Diyada (near Village Bhitulu), Tehsil
(1) Information Required: Kindly supply a photocopy of the entire file of the above referenced micro-hydel project. This RTI requests photocopy of all documents and correspondence starting with the application for the project site allocation, the MOU, Detailed Project Report, all Environmental Impact Assessments, all NOC's, along with any correspondence throughout the process from application 'till date. Please include all material concerning any objections raised by either Himurja, any other public agency, or from public.
(2)The applicant is not below poverty line.
(3) IPO number: 83E 033121 for Rs. 10 enclosed with this application.
Yours Sincerely,
Date: June 18, 2009 Atul Bhardwaj
Adarsh Bhawan
Shamnagar
Dharamshala,H.P.
Exhibit II Evasive Response by Himurja
