<p>The <span class="key-term" data-definition="Supreme Court — the apex judicial body in India with the power to interpret the Constitution and resolve disputes (GS2: Polity)">Supreme Court</span> has received an affidavit from the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Union of India — the central government of the Republic of India, representing the federal authority in constitutional matters (GS2: Polity)">Union of India</span> that restricts any new <span class="key-term" data-definition="Hydro‑Electric Project (HEP) — a power generation facility that converts water flow into electricity; relevant to GS3: Energy and Environment">Hydro‑Electric Project</span> (HEP) in the upper reaches of the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Alaknanda and Bhagirathi river basin — the upper reaches of the Ganga River in Uttarakhand, characterized by fragile ecology and high disaster risk (GS3: Environment)">Alaknanda and Bhagirathi river basin</span>. The move follows the 2013 Uttarakhand flood disaster that highlighted the region’s ecological fragility.</p>
<h3>Key Developments</h3>
<ul>
<li>Only seven HEPs — four commissioned and three under construction — are allowed to continue.</li>
<li>The affidavit is backed by three ministries: <span class="key-term" data-definition="Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) — the central ministry responsible for environmental policy, forest conservation, and climate action (GS2: Polity)">Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change</span>, <span class="key-term" data-definition="Ministry of Power — the central ministry that formulates policies for electricity generation, transmission and distribution (GS2: Polity)">Ministry of Power</span>, and <span class="key-term" data-definition="Ministry of Jal Shakti — the central ministry overseeing water resources, river management and flood control (GS2: Polity)">Ministry of Jal Shakti</span>.</li>
<li>The Court gave the Union three months, in January 2026, to decide on the recommendations of a Court‑constituted Committee.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Important Facts</h3>
<p>The seven projects listed are:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Tehri PSP (Tehri Stage‑II)</strong> – commissioned.</li>
<li><strong>Tapovan Vishnugad (NTPC)</strong> – 75.28% complete.</li>
<li><strong>Vishnugad Pipalkoti (THDCIL)</strong> – 80% complete.</li>
<li><strong>Singoli Bhatwari (L&T)</strong> – commissioned in November 2020.</li>
<li><strong>Phata Byung (Lanco)</strong> – 74% complete.</li>
<li><strong>Madhmaheshwar (UJVNL)</strong> – commissioned in September 2024.</li>
<li><strong>Kailganga‑II (Chamoli Hydro)</strong> – commissioned in May 2022.</li>
</ul>
<p>The affidavit criticises the earlier expert panel <span class="key-term" data-definition="EB‑II (Expert Body‑II) — a technical committee that evaluated hydropower projects based on ecological criteria (GS3: Environment)">EB‑II</span> for omitting disaster‑related parameters such as landslides, flash floods, <span class="key-term" data-definition="Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) — a sudden release of water from a glacial lake, often causing downstream flooding; a key disaster risk in Himalayan basins (GS3: Environment)">Glacial Lake Outburst Flood</span>, and seismic activity in its scoring methodology.</p>
<h3>UPSC Relevance</h3>
<p>This case illustrates the intersection of <strong>environmental governance</strong>, <strong>energy policy</strong>, and <strong>disaster management</strong>—core topics for GS 3 (Environment & Ecology) and GS 2 (Polity). Aspirants should note:</p>
<ul>
<li>The constitutional role of the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Supreme Court — the apex judicial body in India with the power to interpret the Constitution and resolve disputes (GS2: Polity)">Supreme Court</span> in adjudicating inter‑state and centre‑state disputes over natural resources.</li>
<li>How ministries coordinate to balance <strong>hydropower development</strong> with ecological safety, a recurring theme in India’s renewable‑energy push.</li>
<li>The importance of site‑specific assessments, especially in ecologically sensitive Himalayan basins, for policy‑making and project approval.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<p>Going forward, the Union is expected to formalise the list of permissible projects and enforce stricter environmental clearances for any future HEPs in the upper Ganga basin. Continuous monitoring of seismic activity, glacial dynamics, and flood risk will be essential to prevent repeat disasters. For UPSC preparation, candidates should track the outcome of this affidavit, as it will shape future policy on sustainable hydropower and disaster‑resilient development in the Himalayas.</p>
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