Devi pointed out that the debris from a nearby hydroelectric power plant had destroyed her house and those of her neighbors in Haat village. She questioned the type of development that takes away homes from the poor to provide electricity to others. Over 240 households in the village lost their homes due to the construction of the 444-megawatt hydropower project on the Alaknanda river. The power plant funded by the World Bank is just one of many hydroelectric projects currently being constructed or in operation in India's Himalayan states. These projects are part of an effort to reduce the country's carbon emissions. The government believes that along with solar and wind power, hydropower is essential for India to achieve its goal of obtaining 50% of its energy from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030. Supporters of hydropower argue that it offers a significant amount of clean electricity and can be quickly increased when solar and wind energy sources are unable to meet demand. However, opponents, including environmental groups and affected communities, argue that the high environmental and social costs associated with hydroelectric projects are difficult to justify. For example, Devi, a 63-year-old resident, shared that when officials from the government-owned Tehri Hydro Development Corporation (THDC) approached locals to purchase their land, those who refused were forcefully taken to a police station while their homes were demolished. Devi, a homemaker who now resides in a nearby village, mentioned that those who had previously agreed to sell their homes were given a "nominal" compensation of 1 million Indian rupees ($12,887) each. Sandeep Gupta, the assistant general manager of the THDC project, stated that the residents of Haat had willingly agreed to resettle themselves and received fair compensation. He also stated that the project was being monitored by government agencies to prevent any environmental damage, with no adverse impact reported so far. The International Energy Agency referred to hydropower as "the forgotten giant of clean electricity" in a June 2021 report, urging countries to incorporate it into their energy mix to achieve net-zero emissions. According to government data, India currently has 46 gigawatts of installed hydropower capacity, which is only a fraction of its potential generation capacity. In 2019, the government officially designated hydroelectric projects over 25 MW as a renewable energy source to increase capacity. Power companies were then required to incorporate hydroelectricity into their energy supply, whereas only smaller plants had been considered renewable before. Arun Kumar, an expert in hydropower and renewable energy, emphasized that expanding India's hydropower sector goes beyond electricity generation. He noted that hydroelectric dams can also ensure a reliable water supply for residential, commercial, and agricultural purposes. Kumar, who is a member of the International Hydropower Association in London, highlighted that large hydropower projects can bring various benefits such as attracting tourists, creating jobs, and improving infrastructure in surrounding communities, ultimately enhancing the quality of life in underdeveloped areas. According to Himanshu Thakkar, who coordinates the South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People, it does not make economic sense for India to build more hydropower plants when cheaper clean energy alternatives like solar and wind projects are available. Thakkar stated that the cost of installing 1 MW of hydroelectric capacity in India is over 100 million rupees, which is twice as much as the cost for the same capacity from solar or wind sources. He believes that corruption and weak regulation are the main reasons why Indian authorities prioritize hydropower. Thakkar also mentioned that there is a high potential for inflating costs due to lack of credible regulatory oversight. Despite hydropower being considered a green energy source, some environmentalists argue that it does more harm than good in terms of environmental impact. According to experts, hydro projects can have negative impacts such as deforestation, river diversion, decreased groundwater recharge, and significant earth movement, all of which can increase the vulnerability of nearby communities to extreme weather events. S.P. Sati, an environmental science professor at the College of Forestry-Ranichauri in Uttarakhand, highlighted the devastating floods in the state in 2013, which resulted in approximately 6,000 deaths according to government estimates. A committee appointed by India's Supreme Court found that hydroelectric projects had worsened the flood damage by causing rushing water to carry large amounts of debris downstream, burying low-lying communities. The committee also warned in a report that construction activities like digging and the use of explosives could trigger landslides or slope failure. Sati expressed concern that if the sensitivity, fragility, and carrying capacity of the terrain are disregarded, hydropower could lead to significant disasters. Rajendra Prasad Hatwal, the head of Haat village, stated that residents will continue to protest and lobby the local government until the developers of the hydropower plant stop using their land as a dumping ground and fairly compensate displaced families. He questioned India's heavy reliance on hydropower, pointing out disruptions in countries like the United States, Brazil, and China due to climate change-driven droughts. Hatwal also raised concerns about the clearing of thousands of trees for the power plant, especially in light of the global push to save forests to combat climate change. He described the situation as confusing and frustrating.