Activists in the town of Thathri are raising the alarm over the dumping of debris from the Ratle Hydroelectric Project (HEP) into the Chenab River, a mere 4-5 kilometers away. This practice, they fear, will cause environmental damage and potential flooding in the town. Adding to the urgency, a recent 40-year power purchase agreement between the project developer and Rajasthan casts a complex shadow over the situation.
Mansoor Butt, a former chairman of the Thathri Municipal Committee, voiced strong anxieties to The Chenab Times, highlighting the immediate threat posed by the debris. “The flow of the river is being choked by this dumping,” he stated, “putting Thathri at risk of severe flooding during the upcoming monsoon season.” Butt further expressed frustration at the perceived inaction, despite escalating the issue to the National Green Tribunal (NGT). “Who will be accountable if our town suffers the consequences?” he questioned.
Adding to the environmental distress, Asgar Hussain Khanday, a former councilor of the Thathri Municipal Committee, pointed to the devastating impact on the river’s ecosystem. “Aquatic life is being decimated by the debris,” Khande emphasized, “This isn’t just a temporary concern, it’s a long-term environmental disaster.”
The activists’ demands are clear: immediate halt to the dumping of debris and construction of a permanent protective concrete wall around Thathri town to shield it from potential floods. This urgency is amplified by the looming 40-year deal, which guarantees continued environmental damage for generations to come.
The Ratle HEP, a 850 megawatt project in Kishtwar district, is a joint venture between NHPC Limited and the Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation. While the project promises long-term energy benefits, activists argue that these cannot be pursued at the cost of irreparable ecological destruction and the endangerment of a community’s well-being.
With the future of Thathri hanging in the balance and a 40-year environmental burden looming, eyes are on the authorities to address these concerns with immediate and effective action. The delicate balance between energy development and environmental preservation needs to be recalibrated before it’s too late for Thathri and the Chenab River.
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Farid Ahmed Naik is Executive Editor for The Chenab Times and first Sarazi language news reporter. He also covers Crime and Politics on CT. Read More…
