Environmental Violations Alleged at Melkhet Hydro Project in Uttarakhand; Illegal Riverbed Mining Raises Concerns – Indian PSU
Serious allegations of environmental violations have surfaced at the 24 MW Melkhet Hydro-electric Project being developed on the Pindar River in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district. Local residents and environmental activists have accused the project authorities of carrying out large-scale riverbed mining using heavy machinery, allegedly in violation of environmental norms and guidelines issued by the National Green Tribunal (NGT).
The Melkhet Hydro-electric Project, being developed by Melkhet Power Private Limited at an estimated cost of $41 million, is a run-of-river project with diurnal pondage. Construction work commenced in June 2023, and the project was scheduled for commissioning in July 2025. The project involves the construction of an RCC diversion barrage, a 6.5-km-long RCC box channel water conductor system, and a surface powerhouse with an installed capacity of 24 MW.
However, the project has now come under scrutiny following allegations that more than eight Pokland excavators are operating round the clock within the Pindar River, extracting large quantities of riverbed material (RBM). Residents claim that the scale of excavation far exceeds permissible limits and poses a significant threat to the river’s ecology.
Environmental experts warn that continuous mechanized mining inside the river channel could have long-term consequences for the fragile Himalayan ecosystem. They argue that excessive extraction of riverbed material can alter the river’s natural flow, damage aquatic habitats, affect groundwater recharge, and increase the risk of erosion and flooding.
“The indiscriminate use of heavy machinery within the riverbed is a matter of serious concern. If such activities continue unchecked, the ecological health and even the future existence of the Pindar River could be at risk,” said an environmental activist familiar with the region.
The allegations have also raised questions over the role of the district administration and the mining department. Critics allege that large-scale mining activities are taking place openly despite existing regulations, yet no visible enforcement action has been initiated so far.
Local residents have demanded an independent investigation into the alleged violations and strict action against those responsible if the allegations are found to be true. They have also called upon environmental regulators to assess the impact of the ongoing activities on the river ecosystem.
As concerns continue to mount, attention is now focused on whether the district administration, mining authorities, and environmental regulators will launch a comprehensive inquiry into the matter or allow the alleged exploitation of the Pindar River to continue unchecked.
Project Highlights
- Project: Melkhet Hydro-electric Project
- Developer: Melkhet Power Private Limited
- Location: Pindar River, Chamoli District, Uttarakhand
- Installed Capacity: 24 MW
- Design Discharge: 36 cubic metres per second
- Net Head: 83 metres
- Expected Annual Generation: 142.53 Million Units
- Project Cost: Approximately $41 million
- Construction Started: June 2023
- Scheduled Commissioning: July 2025
Email queries from www.indianpsu.com sent to Melkhet Power Private Limited did not elicit any response.
Disclaimer: The allegations mentioned in this report are based on claims made by local residents and environmental activists. Responses from the project developer, district administration, and concerned authorities were not available at the time of publication. Their version will be incorporated as and when received.
