Controversial Dam's Far-reaching Impact

10 June 2004 - 2:00pm

A look at one of India's great rivers before a huge dam project changes it for ever.

"The Bhagirathi River, considered holy by many in India, stands to be changed irrevocably by the Tehri Dam, which will be the fifth-largest in the world when it's completed. This $1.2 billion hydroelectric project will displace tens of thousands of people from more than 100 villages, and, say critics, it could lead to devastation for thousands more if an earthquake hits, as the dam is built near a fault line. Reporter Dan Oko paddles through the Bhagirathi's rapids before they disappear and reflects on India's plans to go even bigger and bolder with hydro."

Full Story: A Dam Shame
Source: Grist Magazine, June 8, 2004
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A few tips for would-be winter bikers: install fenders, ride slower, lower your seat so you can use your boots as an emergency brake and enjoy the Christmas-card scenery.