The Save Lahaul Society has strongly opposed the proposed Rs 2,356 crore Chenab-Beas tunnel hydropower project, urging the government to reconsider the plan in view of the fragile ecology of the Himalayan region and the concerns of local residents.
Raising alarm over the environmental implications of the project, Society president BS Rana warned that the venture could prove disastrous not only for Lahaul but also for downstream regions including Kullu, Mandi, Kangra and parts of Punjab along the Beas basin. He cautioned that if the project proceeds without addressing public concerns, local residents may be forced to launch an agitation against what he termed an environmentally destructive initiative.
The proposed project reportedly aims to generate 4,000 MW of electricity by diverting water from the Chandra River into the Beas River through a tunnel system. Rana said the ecologically sensitive terrain on both sides of the Pir Panjal range has become increasingly vulnerable to landslides and soil erosion over the past four years, making large-scale construction activities highly risky.
He also criticised reports suggesting that the project was being pursued in response to Pakistan’s activities along the western border. Calling such reasoning “immature”, Rana said environmental destruction could not be justified in the name of national security or border development.
He further described the proposed model of development in border areas as inhumane and inappropriate, arguing that protecting man-made boundaries should not come at the cost of damaging nature and disrupting the natural flow of rivers and ecosystems.
