SHISHIR PRASHANT The Uttarakhand government today decided not to go ahead with construction of two major hydel projects on the Bhagirathi river in the wake of the fast-unto-death by GD Agrawal, an environmentalist spearheading the "save Bhagirathi" campaign. The decision to put off construction of the 480-Mw Pala Maneri project and the 400-Mw Bhairon Ghati project was taken at a cabinet meeting presided over by Chief Minister BC Khanduri, a state government official said. The indefinite fast by Agrawal since June 13 has put considerable pressure on the BJP government. The Sangh Parivar outfits have also given their full support to the campaign. However, the state government has made it clear that the decision on stopping the construction of the 600-Mw Lohari Nagpala project would be taken by the Centre since it was being constructed by state-run NTPC. Both Pala Maneri and Bhairon Ghati projects were allotted to the state-owned Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd (UJVNL), which recently commissioned the 304-Mw Maneri Bhali-II. An investment of nearly Rs 5,200 crore was proposed in these two projects. A UJVNL official described the move as a big setback to the company, saying it would jeopardise the state's initiative to become self-reliant in power.