Environmental concerns grow over reported hydropower proposal on Sukhnag stream

Local communities, activists warn against further ecological degradation, call for sustainable development in Beerwah, ARIZAL AND UPPER ARIZAL AREAS

Srinagar, Aug 6: Concerns are mounting among environmentalists and local communities over reports of a proposed hydropower project on the Sukhnag stream in Beerwah, Budgam, with critics warning that another major infrastructure project could further damage an ecosystem already under pressure from mining and threaten local livelihoods.

Among those raising the issue is environmental activist Raja Muzaffar, who has urged the government to abandon any plans for a hydropower project on the stream and instead focus on renewable energy and nature-based economic opportunities.

Muzaffar said the Sukhnag River has been “devastated” by extensive mining over the past five years and cautioned that a hydropower project would inflict additional ecological damage. He said he had received information from a “reliable source” that the government was considering such a project, though there has been no official confirmation of the proposal.

Citing the 7.5 MW hydropower project on the Doodh Ganga near Branwar in Chadoora as a cautionary example, Muzaffar alleged that local residents had borne the environmental costs without receiving commensurate benefits. He claimed forests were cleared, a nearly two-kilometre stretch of the Doodh Ganga dried up, and the Haijan meadow was scarred by large pipelines, while residents continue to face high electricity bills.

He also alleged that the private company operating the project had failed to adequately invest in surrounding villages through corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives.

Muzaffar argued that the Sukhnag valley has significant potential for sustainable development, including trout farming, angling, rafting and eco-tourism. He said the stream supports numerous trout farms that could be adversely affected by hydropower development.

He further suggested expanding solar electrification and exploring wind energy potential in the Tosamaidan and upper Sutharan areas as cleaner alternatives to river-based power generation.

Appealing to the Chief Minister’s Office, Lieutenant Governor’s Office and the Budgam district administration, Muzaffar urged the government to protect the Sukhnag ecosystem and prioritise development models that safeguard natural resources while creating sustainable livelihoods for local communities.

There has been no official response from the government regarding the reported proposal for a hydropower project on the Sukhnag stream.