Saga of the sinking city..........Saga of the sinking city..........…………..the race for development!! ..the race for development!!

but at what cost?but at what cost?

Tamanna Chaturvedi

New Delhi

India

Once upon a time until 1989, there was a city named

“ Tehri Garhwal”

Away from the cacophony of big cities ” in the hills of Garhwal situated at the confluence of two

holy rivers; Bhagirathi and Bhilanga (tributaries of Ganga)

BhagirathiBhilangna

sangam

sang am

Small towns hip with beautiful ambience…and

… people s o unpretentious

“Maharajah Sudarshan Shah established the town as the capital of Tehri-Garhwal in

1803”

With the existence and history as old as 200 years, the city had a Grand King’s palace on

the top of the city”

there existed “108 villages nearby“Smiling with rich green fields

King’s palace

Kandal Gaon

King’s palace

… life s o s imple & uninterrupted

I was meager 2 year old in 1977 when I entered this beautiful world full of

s implicity, honesty and affection. These glimpses makes me nostalgic for it reminds me of my… old home… .my

school… my friends!!

myhome

School which made me what I am today!!

as a small child, I used to wonder why we lived in a house made of wood and tin shades … oblivious of the fact that all this was a part of the foresighted destruction … .for destiny had decided a different fate for my home… my city!!

Despite strong resistance from then inhabitants, a huge Dam was planned at the cost of the

destruction of the city.

• In 1986 an Indo-Soviet agreement brought Soviet expertise and aid of approximately $416 million to the project. • In 2001 the German export credit agency Hermes guaranteed loans to Voith Siemens Hydro to provide generating equipment for Tehri.

Revolt in 1970’s

Sunderlal Bahuguna:

The famous Chipko movement in 1980’s

…My fond remembrance

… .I left the city in 1988 ignorant of the fact that I will not be able to see

it again … .NEVER!!

Untouched city until 2000

’ King s palace

.. Bridge bringing essential items to the city

Untouched city until 2000

’ Way to king s palace kandal gaon

3 CLOSE THE DAM GATES T 4& T

!! FILL THE DAM

And then there were not even tin shades and wooden doors .. they had to take them all… .for the city was declared to be drowned!!

a d r e a d f u l s h o u t … .

D e c 2001

2 0 0 2 -0 7Ye a r

’ King s palace

.. Bridge bringing essential items to the city

First target was the bridge forcing people to evacuate

.. Bridge Check the water level

Closer view until 2001

…Rising water levels

Sangam(2001) drowned (2003)

Bridge no more

The city drowned into reservoir and …poor people into tears

Drowning bridge Palace my home Clock Tower

2003… . I c o u l d h a v e s t i l l s e e n my h o me

Drowned bridge Drowning City Palace Clock Tower

Y e a r 2004… . I c o u l d h a v e s t i l l s e e n my h o me

Drowning city Palace Clock Tower

L a t e 2005… . I c o u l d h a v e s t i l l s e e n my h o me

Drowned city Palace Clock Tower

While the city was drowning….dam was progressing into a 40 km

long reservoir

Dam preparation

Drowning villages….

Untouched Kandal until 2000

’ Way to king s palace kandal gaon

Kandal Gaon until 2000 seen earlier

Tunnels under construction 1981-2001

I remember crossing this bridge to reach my father in the tunnel

Y e a r 2004 I c a n n o t g o t o k a n d a l a g a i n

Tunnels under use

I come back after 30 years to only witness and brood about my lost childhood memories…. While my father feels proud about his dream project coming true….

Y e a r 2008… .

Palace

I stand here to click the next picture

Y e a r 2008… . I c a n n e v e r s e e my h o u s e a g a i n

Palace

The spillway advertised in Jaypee..adv

Glimpse of the lost city 1989(up) to 2008 (down)

C a n a n y o n e g iv e b a c k m y o ld?T e h r i

… the production of 2400 mega wt of electricity;at the cost of the submerged city… ..

… .a dam with seismic fears;at the cost of inhabitant’ s tears … .. … ..a dam with huge power generation;at the cost of loss of culture of various generations … .

and today

… .I regret not vis iting this place earlierat the cost of involvement in my own success & failures …

?After all at what cos t

my Tehri… ..an unforgetful memory!!

In my next vis it I s ee mys e lf s ailing thru this beautiful lake and parks

… with a regret of not been able to witnes s the fading !!!!marks