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Centre has stopped work
on Tehri dam: VHP

The Centre has directed the Tehri dam authorities to suspend its move to stop the main current of the River Bhagirathi for filling the hydel power project's reservoir, till an expert committee submits its findings, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad claimed on Friday.

VHP Working President Ashok Singhal, who had threatened to go on an indefinite fast at Tehri from Saturday against the move, would call it off following an assurance from Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, organisation senior Vice-President Giriraj Kishore told reporters in New Delhi.

Vajpayee assured a VHP delegation on Wednesday that an expert committee, comprising among others experts nominated by the Sangh Parivar outfit, would be set up and the "flow of Bhagirathi will not be disrupted till it submits its findings", Kishore claimed.

The VHP delegation included its President Vishnu Hari Dalmia, Vice-President Hari Atma Ram and Secretary General Praveenbhai Togadia.

The leaders had earlier met Power Minister Suresh Prabhu.

"We have suggested five names for the expert panel and Prabhu has already sent the file for setting up the panel to the PMO," he said.

The VHP, under the banner of Ganga Raksha Samiti, had been opposing the dam on the grounds that it would end the "sacredness and purity" of river Ganges revered by the Hindus.

Over Rs 2,500 crore has been spent on the project.

PTI

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