The findings were part of a five-year field study conducted by the researchers of Kumaun University with the support of Colombo-based International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and co-ordinated by Arizona University. They explored the impact of six micro-power projects, ranging from 0.2MW to 12.6MW, on 11 villages in the region. While three of the Plants were built on the Saryu river, the others are on its tributaries.
According to the researchers, blasting and tunnelling for such projects have ravaged natural water sources that have fed the villages in the region for centuries. They said that this also contributed to loss of Agriculture-notes-for-state-psc-exams”>Agriculture and EMPLOYMENT, forcing many to migrate from the area.