Cracked Ground, Leaking Tunnel: Kullu Villages Fear Parvati Project Is Putting Them at Risk
In Kullu district, families in Palchara (RD-14000) under Raila panchayat are facing a frightening problem: they say water leaking from a tunnel linked to Adit-5 of the Parvati Hydroelectric Project Phase-2 has damaged some of their homes. The fear is not limited to one house or one slope. According to Guman Singh, convener of Himalaya Niti Abhiyan, after water was released into the project tunnel, villages in Raila panchayat began reporting cracks in the ground and water seepage. He has asked the state government and district administration to order an immediate technical and geological investigation.
How the project works
Under Phase-2, water from the Parvati River is diverted from Barshaini through a tunnel toward the Sainj River to generate electricity. The tunnel emerges in the Bhat Kanda area. Below it lies Adit-5, and below that is Palchara (RD-14000). A dumping site for the project has also been built behind Palchara.
Guman Singh claimed that during the 2025 monsoon, debris from the dumping site triggered a landslide in the area, and two village houses were reported destroyed. He pointed out that several populated areas, including Raila village, lie below the dumping site. If a bigger landslide occurs, he warned, the safety of local people could be at serious risk.
Cracks reported in several villages
According to Guman Singh, after water was released into the project tunnel last year, cracks in the land were reported at several places not only in Raila but also in Shulga, Dahra, Rumbra, Khadoha, Bagidhar and Rakh Sukhal. He also said that during last year’s monsoon, around 15 to 20 houses were reported damaged in Jiva and nearby villages. These incidents, he said, need a scientific investigation.
Seepage near Siund
Referring to the Siund area, he said several parts of the mountain above the powerhouse have been cemented. But after water was introduced into the project, seepage began from some parts of the mountain. He demanded that a team of experts conduct a scientific study of the entire area to find the real reasons.
Demand for probe and safety measures
Guman Singh said the seepage from the tunnel could be caused by construction defects or by a failure to properly assess underground geological conditions. But the real cause will be clear only after an expert investigation. He demanded an immediate technical and geological probe into the tunnel leakage and effective safety measures to stop it.
He added that several villages of Raila panchayat below Adit-5 are located on sloping, crumbly land. In such a situation, the possible danger to areas below the dumping site behind Palchara cannot be ignored.
Himalaya Niti Abhiyan has urged the government to take immediate note of the matter, get a safety audit of the project area and affected villages conducted by experts, and ensure the safety of local people. It has also demanded that NHPC get a proper assessment of the losses suffered by people allegedly affected by the project and ensure compensation and damages as per rules.