MoEF changes stand on relocation of Dhari Devi temple for Alaknanda dam

NEW DELHI . Supreme Court rebuffs ministry for opposing relocation of the temple at a higher level, something its own committee had approved The Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has opposed the relocation of the Dhari devi temple in Uttarakhand that would be submerged by the Shrinagar Hydro-Electric Project being constructed along the Alaknanda river, a tributary of the Ganga. In an affidavit submitted to the Supreme Court, the ministry defended the right of people to worship at the temple, drawing a parallel with the Vedanta case in which the apex court had upheld the right of the Dongria Kondh tribal people to worship the Niyamgiri hill, earmarked for blasting for bauxite mining.

“The right to worship at Dhari Devi temple is identical to the case argued at Niyamgiri and it is submitted that the present position and location and the consequent right to worship at the Dhari devi temple, cannot be compromised on any account,” the affidavit states. But the affidavit contradicts a report of the joint committee set up by the ministry, which said the temple could be raised to a higher level and that even the priests were not opposed to it. The court, it is learnt, expressed displeasure over inconsistencies between the ministry's affidavit and other reports on raising the temple structure to a higher level, a project already under way .Downtoearth.org.in