Though the Loharinag Pala hydroelectric project would not have involved building a huge
dam, as Circle of Blue reports, the run - of - river project still would have diverted a 16 kilometer stretch of the river through pipes to generate electricity.In addition to stopping the project, construction on which had been on hold for
over a year after scientist AD Agarwal nearly died in a hunger
strike protesting the plan, a 135 kilometer stretch of the Bhagirathi River upstream of the town of Uttarkashi will be designated an «environmentally sensitive area», prohibiting future hydro or similar development projects.