(Old Tehri Town totally submerged)
(Old Tehri Town getting submerged)
(New Tehri Town built on a mountain)
Another journey, a new hope, another destination and we continue...like life!
The bus passed two beautiful places on the way to Chamba, SUAKHOLI and BURASKHANDA and I had half the mind to break my journey...beautiful serene hamlets with the majestic Himalayan views on my left, known for birding and pristine scenery.
Chamba was 15 km from Kanatal and soon reached the great valley of the river BHAGIRATHI at the height of 1676 meters above sea level. Arrangements had been at "The Hilltop Resorts" at the height of 2500 meters at the top of the hill. The place surprised me. The resort had everything a five star can boast of at the three star rates! A beautiful glass house at the end of a hilltop overlooking the great Himalayan peaks! A lovely swimming pool at that height. You name a facility-you get it!
Next day I left for "New Tehri" known for "World's one of the highest dam"only at 12 km from Chamba. Reaching dam I was speechless! Never in my life had seen such a massive human endeavour-stopping two great rivers "Bhagirathi" and "Bhiangana" as if God has just raised his hands and blocked the gushing column of water! Incredible! I could take pictures as it was prohibited. But what happened to "TEHRI" town?
Then I knew the entire history when I reached the "New Tehri", a town constructed for the displaced inhabitants!
Mr. Negi who works in a govt. department narrated the story: Tehri was 189 years old "heritage" town and a capital of "Tehri Garhwal" on the banks of two great rivers Bhagirathi and Bhilangana. On that unfortunate day...the swelling waters of both rivers crossed the danger mark of 648 meters at 11 AM, entered the main bazaar and submerged the historical town of Tehri! 23 villages submerged totally along with the town, 72 partially. 100,000 inhabitants were left without their homes! 5200 hectares of land lost. The administration acted swiftly and transferred the remaining 50 families who had refused to leave the town, tears in their eyes!
They lost the battle eventually in the highest court. It was a fight between the long cherished values based on the cultural, religious, a balance between nature blessed by the great Himalayas and harmonious living and on the other side, a growth and development-3.22 cu. m. of warer, irrigation to 270,000 hectares of land with a hydal power generation of 346 MW.
The new town of "New Tehri" was constructed at a height of 2000 meters and people housed. However the question remains: is it a permanent solution? The main river "Bhagirathi" originates from the "Gangotri" glacier at the great Himalayas and had receded to 800 meters in the last 40 years obviously due to global warming! So what's the future? What are we doing about global warming?
With these thoughts and questions in my mind I walked to the Clock-Tower in the New Tehri and sat there looking at the small shops and restaurants. people were standing, laughing doing their business. I wanted to have the view of the dam and the rivers making it now a great lake so I strolled toward north east passing through GMVN tourist house. The skyline was of the great Himalayan snow peaks and below was the part of new town and a sight of the human marvel, The Tehri Dam.
THE CLASSIC HILLTOP RESORTS, CHAMBA: 91-1376-255252/255836