In August 2021, the Environment Ministry has given clearance to continue construction on seven hydroelectric projects in the Upper Ganga basin in Uttarakhand.

1. Vishnugad Pipalkoti on Alaknanda river;
2. Tapovan Vishnugad on Dhauliganga river;
3. Singoli Bhatwari on Mandakini river;
4. Phata-Buyong on Mandakini river;
5. Tehri Stage II on Bhagirathi river;
6. Madhyamaheshwar on Madhmaheshwar Ganga;
7. Kaliganga II (4.5 MW) on Kaliganga river.

These headstreams of Ganga basin provide invaluable eco-system services and our directly responsible towards the food and water security of the country. The Ministry of Environment in its submission before the Supreme Court in December 2014 accepted that the hydropower projects played a direct and indirect role in disasters.

Over the last decade, several such incidents have been reported from Asi-Ganga valley, Ukimath, Rishi Ganga valley, Yamuna valley of the Ganga - Himalayan basin. Eight years ago, the Supreme Court had put a moratorium on such hydro projects after thousands were killed in the flash floods of 2013.