TEHRI, INDIA, December 8, 2001: Despite protests from Indian scientists and environmentalists, the government has forged ahead on building a dam whose construction will result in the total submergence of the 200-year-old northern Himalayan town of Tehri by November of 2002. Scientists are concerned that the dam is too close to the “edge of the central Himalayan seismic gap, around 45 kms. from the epicenter of a 1991 earthquake.” Over 10,000 townspeople will be forced to relocate. As part of the construction process, two water tunnels controlling the flow of the Bhagirathi river were closed recently, the river flow reversed, and the alteration created a reservoir that has submerged part of the town, including some ancient temples. The local people feel intimidated by this recent development and insecure that the bridge linking the old part of the town with the new part may become submerged. However, authorities such as the district magistrate, Radha Ratudi told the BBC, “that her administration was working to ensure normal food supplies and transport services,” for the townspeople during their transition.
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