By Rashme Sehgal June 16: Prof. G.D. Aggarwal, who is sitting on a fast unto death in Uttarkashi from June 13, fears the construction of six hydel projects on the upper Ganga between the Gangotri glacier and Uttarkashi will see a drying-up of the river for over a 50-km stretch. Prof. Aggarwal, an environmental scientist who has been a dean at Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, and was the first member secretary of the Central Pollution Central Board, feels the water levels of the Bhagirathi and the Bhilangana rivers have become negligible and the numerous streams that feed into these rivers are also drying up. Already this year, Google Earth images showed the Bhagirathi river had dried up over an eight-km stretch at Chham, 12 km downstream of Dhirasu dam. This story was reported in this newspaper in March. The prime culprit for this is the Maneri Bhali Phase 2 project which became operational from January 2008 Prof. Aggarwal also points a finger at the Maneri Bhali Phase 1 project, Bhairon Ghati Phase 1 and 2 as also the Loharinag Pala Hydroelectric Power Project and the Pali Maneri Power Project. The Maneri Bhali Phase 1 became operational in 1988. It is still not able to generate electricity to its full capacity because of repeated damage to the turbine blades by the quartz mineral particles which flow in the water. Commander Surinder Sinha, who runs an NGO to save the Ganga, believes that over 85 per cent of the lean season flows of both the Bhagirathi and the Bhilangana are flowing into the ground, leading to a very rapid emptying of the Tehri dam reservoir to below the minimum level required for power generation. The old Tehri town is already visible, and despite protestations to the contrary by the authorities concerned, he believes the Tehri project is failing to meet any of its objectives due to lack of water. Engineers at the Tehri Hydro Development Corporation (THDC) believe otherwise. Vijay Goel, engineer and additional general manager (THDC), points out that the Tehri dam is a "reservoir scheme in which water is sent back to be used again" and therefore levels have not lowered as is being claimed by activist groups. "The highest level the dam has reached is 816 metres and the glacial melting has only served to increase our water levels. While the dam contains 3,540 million cubic metres of water, we have a 2,615-million cubic metre of live storage outflow. This year we have exceeded our electricity generation by 2649 million units," Mr Goel pointed out. He refused to comment on the other projects under execution, claiming they were being executed by either the state government or private parties. "Work on all projects is done after we receive clearances from the Geological Survey of India, soil conservation and forest conservation departments." An online petition signed by leading environmentalists from across the country has been sent to the Prime Minister in support of Prof. Aggarwal.