Rising water level in Tehri dam submerges 150-yr-old market

Tehri (Uttarakhand), Sept 16: A century-and-half-year-old market in Uttarakhand has been submerged due to rising water level in Tehri dam, badly affecting normal life in the area.

The 154-year-old Cham market settlement on the bank of Bhagirathi River has been flooded along with its nearby villages, like Murana and Dharwal, leaving its residents distraught.

"We are facing a lot of trouble. There is no provision for us. All our eatables and other belongings are submerged. Our children will die of hunger," said Soma, a resident of Murana village.Over the years, the market had become a business-cum-cultural hotspot for the residents of almost 300 nearby villages, and also for those who have settled in the area.

Farmers used to sell their produce to the traders visiting the area in the market. The regular fairs and festivities were also organised here.

"Our market place is completely ruined. The fair that used to be held will no longer take place. The festivities, gaiety all will become a thing of the past. We will not be able to meet the people from the other side or vice versa," said Jeet Singh, resident of Cham market settlement.

"In fact, what used to be a short walk from here, will now cost us around 150-200 rupees. We had a very big function here which is no longer there. It is like the end of our civilization," Singh added.

The Tehri project was started on Bhagirathi River in Tehri district in 1976 as a joint venture between the Central Government and the then Uttar Pradesh Government.

The multi-purpose dam is being built by the Tehri Hydro Developmentorporation, and will be the world's fourth biggest dam.

The state government had recently given permission to raise the water level to 820 meters.

Estimated to be built at five billion rupees initially, the cost of the dam has since escalated by more than 10 times. Almost 42 billion rupees have been spent on the project which, when completed, will generate 2,500 megawatt electricity. It will also control floods in the downstream plains and provide water to irrigate 270,000 hectares of land.

Environmentalists and scientists have opposed the construction of the 260-metre high dam, as they say it is coming up in an earthquake-prone area, besides it displaced about 100,000 people.

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