Upper Ganga Basin and Hydropower Projects: Environmental Concerns Explained

22 May 2026

The Centre informed the Supreme Court that no new hydroelectric projects should be permitted in the upper Ganga basin of Uttarakhand.

Issue Before the Supreme Court

Examination of Hydropower Projects in Upper Ganga Basin: The Supreme Court has been examining the ecological impact of hydroelectric projects in the Alaknanda and Bhagirathi basins since the 2013 Kedarnath disaster.
Centre’s Stand: The Union Government stated that no new hydroelectric projects should be allowed except seven projects already commissioned or in advanced stages.

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About Environmental Flows (E-Flows)

Environmental flows refer to the quantity, quality and timing of water flows required to sustain river ecosystems, biodiversity and dependent human livelihoods.
Components of Environmental Flows
- Instream Flows: Instream flows are the water flows maintained within rivers and streams to support aquatic ecosystems and ecological processes.
- Freshwater Inflows: Freshwater inflows are the flows reaching estuaries and coastal ecosystems, helping maintain salinity balance and marine biodiversity.
- Subsistence Flows: Subsistence flows are very low flows occurring during drought conditions, essential for minimum ecosystem survival.
- Pulse Flows: Pulse flows are short-term high-flow events caused by heavy rainfall, helping nutrient transport and sediment movement.
- Base Flows: Base flows are regular flow levels occurring most of the year, sustaining normal riverine ecological functions.

Reasons Behind the Centre’s Decision

Ecological Fragility of the Himalayan Region: The Centre highlighted that the upper Ganga basin lies in geologically fragile Himalayan regions vulnerable to landslides, earthquakes and flash floods.
Importance of Headstreams of the Ganga: The Alaknanda and Bhagirathi rivers are critical headstreams supporting biodiversity, nutrient flow and ecological balance in the Ganga river system.
Need to Maintain Environmental Flow (e-flow): The government stressed that uninterrupted river flow is necessary for maintaining aquatic ecosystems and river health.
Cultural and Religious Significance of Ganga: The Ganga holds immense religious and cultural importance, requiring special ecological protection measures.Cumulative Environmental Impacts: The Centre argued that earlier expert reports underestimated the combined ecological impact of multiple hydropower projects.About Hydroelectric Projects in the Upper Ganga Basin
Existing Approved Projects: Seven projects, including Tehri Stage-II and Tapovan Vishnugad, were permitted due to substantial physical and financial progress.

About Upper Ganga Basin

The Upper Ganga Basin refers to the Himalayan headwater region of the Ganga River system, mainly covering the Alaknanda and Bhagirathi basins in Uttarakhand.
Origin of the Ganga River: The River Ganga originates at Devprayag, where the Alaknanda and Bhagirathi rivers merge to form the main Ganga River.
Important Tributaries of the Upper Ganga Basin
- Bhagirathi River: The Bhagirathi originates from the Gangotri Glacier at Gaumukh and is considered one of the principal headstreams of the Ganga.
- Alaknanda River: The Alaknanda originates near the Satopanth Glacier and joins the Bhagirathi at Devprayag.
- Mandakini River: The Mandakini River originates from the Chorabari Glacier near Kedarnath and joins the Alaknanda at Rudraprayag.
- Pindar River: The Pindar River originates from the Pindari Glacier and merges with the Alaknanda at Karnaprayag.

Environmental Concerns : Large hydropower projects can alter river flow, damage forests, fragment habitats and increase disaster risks in mountain ecosystems.
Seismic Vulnerability of the Region: The upper Ganga basin falls within Seismic Zones IV and V, making it highly prone to earthquakes and geological instability.

Previous Recommendation and Decision

Ravi Chopra Committee (2014): The committee concluded that hydropower projects aggravated the 2013 Kedarnath disaster and recommended cancellation of several projects.
Vinod Tare Committee (2015): The committee observed that certain projects with prior clearances could still pose serious ecological threats.
B.P. Das Committee (2020): The committee recommended allowing 28 hydroelectric projects in the Alaknanda and Bhagirathi basins.
Government’s Revised Position: The Centre later restricted approval to only seven projects after inter-ministerial consultations and expert review.

Significance of the Decision

Himalayan Ecological Conservation: The decision reflects growing recognition of the ecological sensitivity of the Himalayan river systems.
Promotes Sustainable River-basin Management: The move prioritises long-term environmental sustainability over short-term infrastructure expansion.
Highlights Climate and Disaster Resilience Concerns: The policy acknowledges increasing climate-induced disasters in fragile mountain ecosystems.
Balance Between Development and Ecology: The case underlines the need to reconcile renewable energy goals with biodiversity and ecological protection.

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Conclusion

The Centre’s stand marks a significant shift towards ecologically sensitive development and stronger conservation of the fragile upper Ganga Himalayan ecosystem.

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