The United States of America has removed 72 Hydropower Projects made in the rivers in 2016.Between 1912 to 2016, the United States has removed 1384 dams as detailed in.
In this context, here we can see the report of American Rivers here. The American Government believes that removing River Projects will provide more benefits to local communities, such as getting clean water, reviving fish and wildlife, public safety, entertainment from fishing and kayaking etc. The benefits obtained from the generation of hydropower are less. Thus removal of dams leads to the growth of the economy.
According to American Rivers:
“Dam removal can be expensive in the short term, but in most cases where dams have been removed or are being considered for removal, money is actually saved over the long term. In addition, removal often generates income from newly available recreation opportunities – including fishing, kayaking, and rafting – which may actually result in a net economic benefit.”
In the US, dams have been removed in two ways. First those small dams, who had outlived their useful life, like the Oregon Rogue River Dam. Secondly those dams which were in working such as Matilija dam and Elwha dam.
The United States has assesses that benefits from these dams are less and losses are more. The question is this: In the US hydropower projects are being removed just for fishing and recreation: yet, in India, although Ganga has been given the status of mother, yet we are making more dams on the Holy River. We can see the statements of Shankaracharyas below:
- “Ganga represents our civilization. Her flow has sustained us for thousands of years. It is necessary to keep the flow of Ganga in its natural form. Any human activity that interferes with the flow of Ganga should not be undertaken.”(BySwami Bharti Teerath Ji, Shankaracharya of Sringeri)
- “Absorption of penance of the Rishis requires that 100 percent natural flow of the Ganga should be maintained in this stretch. His Holiness opposes building of Dams on the Ganga. New dams should not be built. Dams built earlier should be removed as soon as possible.” (By Nischalanand ji, Shankaracharya of Puri)
- “In Uttarakhand, the dams being constructed on Bhagirathi Ganga, Alaknanda Ganga and Mandakini Ganga, it seems that a father is putting a noose around the neck of her daughter and killing her.”(By Sri Swarupanand ji Maharaj, Shankaracharya of Joshimath and Dwarka)
The full statements of the Shankaracharya’s are here.
After coming to power, the Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi had said, “Now we do not have to take anything from the Ganga but only to give to her.” In keeping with this statement, we urge that Shri Modi may remove the already constructed dams like Vishnuprayag, Srinagar, Tehri, Maneri-Bhali, koteshwar on the Ganga and her tributaries, just as United States has removed the dams for fish and entertainment.
