NGT notice on Parvati valley hydro projects after villagers flag eco-zone violations

NGT notice on Parvati valley hydro projects after villagers flag eco-zone violations

Kullu, Feb 20,

Residents of Thunja village in Himachal Pradesh’s Kullu district have raised serious environmental and safety concerns over two upcoming hydroelectric projects in Parvati Valley, prompting the Principal Bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to issue notices to the state government and other respondents.

The matter stems from Original Application No. 98/2026, filed by Chandresh Kumar and other local residents, who have challenged the construction of the Kasol Small Hydro Electric Project (5 MW) and the Grahan-Kasol Small Hydro Electric Project (5 MW). The tribunal, in its order dated February 10, 2026, observed that the plea involves substantial questions relating to compliance with environmental norms.

At the centre of the dispute is Grahan Nallah, the primary source of drinking water for Thunja village. Petitioners have alleged that ongoing construction activities—including tunnelling, pipeline laying, and controlled blasting along the hillside—pose a direct threat to both the water source and the structural stability of the surrounding terrain.

The applicants have further claimed that blasting work has commenced without conducting essential studies such as slope stability assessment, vibration-impact analysis, hydrological baseline surveys, and disaster-risk evaluation. Villagers have reported experiencing tremors in the area, raising fears of potential landslides in the fragile Himalayan landscape.

Adding to the concerns, the plea states that both projects fall within the notified Eco-Sensitive Zone of the Kanawar Wildlife Sanctuary, with certain components of the Grahan-Kasol project allegedly located within the sanctuary’s mapped boundary. The petition also cites a 2016 joint inspection report that had flagged slope instability in the region.

Taking cognisance of these submissions, the NGT has directed the applicants to complete service of notice to all respondents and file an affidavit ahead of the next hearing. The case is scheduled for further proceedings on April 2, 2026.

The development has once again brought the spotlight on hydroelectric expansion in ecologically sensitive Himalayan regions, where infrastructure projects often intersect with fragile geology, water security concerns, and biodiversity conservation.