When asked about the meeting, Hatwal said, “We asked them how could the World Bank sanction a loan if it is not even aware of the project site and its historic importance? Our village has almost 15-20 small temple groups belonging to the ancient era. The meeting was also attended by those villagers who had refused to relocate for the HEP project in 2009. Meanwhile, the World Bank authorities held an online meeting with around two dozen villagers on Wednesday. On the other hand, the environmental impact assessment by THDC says that the “project does not have any impact on cultural resources within the project influence area and the project immediate affected area”. He said, “The ASI report stated that the Lakshmi Narayan Temple, which dates back to 9-10th century AD, is located in project immediate affected area”. Sadly, they are designated as ‘muck dumping sites’ of the power project, which renders this important heritage site at serious risk of permanent loss.” Gupta, in his letter, also cited the report filed by the ASI in 2009 after a survey of the Vishnugad-Pipalkoti HEP project site. Instead, the hydroelectric power project is in dangerously close vicinity to the ancient settlement and sacred sites. The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), has also come out in support of the villagers and written to THDC as well as World Bank, which is funding the project, to “restore the impacted sites and also conserve the historic village in its entirety.” Divay Gupta, principal director of the architectural heritage division of INTACH, in his letter dated December 21, said, “The ancient complex (including the temple sites and remains) and village settlement must be included in the protected list of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). “The wall of the dumping zone can fall anytime and severely damage the temple,” the gram pradhan said in the letter. The letter, sent by gram pradhan Rajendra Hatwal, highlights that THDC has set up a muck dumping zone right above the sanctum sanctorum of the Lakshmi Narayan temple established by Adi Shankaracharya. DEHRADUN: The residents of Nani (Choti) Kashi, a historic village in Chamoli district of Garhwal, that has temples believed to be established by Adi Shankracharya, the 8th century philosopher saint, have written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, pointing out that the 444 MW Vishnugad-Pipalkoti hydroelectric power (HEP) project being executed by Tehri Hydro Development Corporation (THDC) near their village is posing a serious threat to their homes as well as ancient temples in the area.
0 kommentar(er)
