Mass protest in Himachal Pradesh's Lahaul-Spiti against proposed hydropower projects in Chenab valley

Today, on May 23, under the banner of Lahaul-Spiti Ekta Manch, hundreds of local residents gathered in Lahaul-Spiti's Udaipur to protest against the proposed hydropower projects in the Chenab Valley. In a memorandum submitted to Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu, the protesters demanded immediate cancellation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the Telangana government for the Seli and Miyar hydropower projects on the Chenab River.

According to the Manch, Lahaul is a cold desert region that is extremely fragile both geographically and ecologically with very limited vegetation cover. It is also one of the most disaster-prone areas in the Himalayas.

Furthermore, this is a tribal region protected under the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution — therefore before implementing any developmental project in this area, tribal rights and ecological concerns must be prioritised priority.

In a statement issued by the Manch, it was highlighted that a total of 17 large hydropower projects proposed on the Chenab River would have serious consequences for the valley’s ecology.

The Cumulative Environmental Impact Assessment (CEIA) report for the Chenab basin has not yet been made public. Public hearings were conducted based only on a summary of the report, which triggered strong opposition from local residents.

As per the Manch, a study by the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Bhopal, identified Lahaul-Spiti as extremely vulnerable to avalanches. Nevertheless, the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) reports for the Seli and Miyar projects fail to address the presence of glacial lakes, avalanche risks, and their potential impact on river flow.

It was further stated that most villages in the region are situated along riverbanks, on glacial debris, and are highly susceptible to land subsidence and landslides. The projects could lead to the submergence of residential and agricultural land, with inadequate availability of land for resettlement. Given the region’s cold climate, agriculture is not possible without irrigation, and tunnel construction would severely affect natural water sources such as springs and seepages. The Seli project's tunnel is planned to pass beneath Madgram village, which is entirely dependent on spring water.

Legal and procedural lapses

The protesters allege that although land acquisition for the Miyar project had concluded in 2011, the project developers have not legally acquired the land, making the acquisition void. Moreover, the Seli project has not obtained the mandatory No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from affected village councils for forest land diversion which is a requirement under the Forest Rights Act and the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution.

The Manch has demanded that all proposed hydropower projects in the Lahaul Valley be put on immediate hold until the full CEIA report is released to the public and proper public hearings are held in accordance with the Fifth Schedule protections.

Local residents argue that a re-evaluation of the Seli and Miyar hydropower projects is urgently needed, as their current EIA reports are incomplete and inadequate.

They fail to address critical issues such as the presence of glacial lakes, avalanche risks, impacts of tunnel construction on water sources, and the large-scale deforestation involved.

Neglecting these key aspects poses a direct threat to the fragile ecology of the region, the traditional livelihoods of tribal communities, and the constitutional rights protected under the Fifth Schedule. Until a comprehensive, scientifically robust, and transparent report is prepared and released, both projects should be halted, and the MoU with the Telangana government suspended.

Addressing the gathering, Guman Singh, the coordinator of the Himalaya Niti Abhiyan, stated that the Chenab Valley was the last untouched region without large-scale hydropower proposals.

"However, in recent years, this has changed. He warned that disturbing Himachal’s steep, fragile slopes — some standing at 90 degrees — would inevitably lead to collapse," Singh said.

He also pointed out that the region is seismically active and large projects would further increase the risk of earthquakes.