ABSTRACT
The state of Uttarakhand comprises 13 districts. 1 Most of these districts lie in mountainous region. Perennial snow-fed rivers and the terrain provide a perfect backdrop for harnessing hydro-electricity, and a large number of hydro-electric projects are already either under construction or are being planned. Buoyed by these developments, the political masters have decided to convert the state into an ‘Urja Pradesh’ (energy state). The construction of the Tehri dam is one giant step in this direction. But the cost involved in the construction of the dam is no more a secret. The dam has come under criticism for several reasons, such as economic viability, environmental degradation, safety concerns, and population displacement.
