Devi's house and those of her neighbors in Haat village were destroyed and buried in construction waste from a nearby hydroelectric power plant. The remains of her house are now hidden under debris near an important Hindu temple, prompting Devi to question the type of development that displaces poor people to provide electricity to others. Over 240 households in the village lost their homes due to the construction of a 444-megawatt hydropower project on the Alaknanda river. The power plant funded by the World Bank is just one of many hydroelectric projects in the Himalayan states of India, aimed at reducing the country's carbon emissions. The government believes that hydropower, along with solar and wind energy, is crucial for achieving India's goal of obtaining 50% of its energy from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030. Proponents of hydropower argue that it produces large amounts of clean electricity and can be quickly increased when solar and wind projects are unable to meet demand. However, critics, including environmental groups and affected communities, argue that the significant environmental and social costs of hydroelectric projects are difficult to justify. For example, Devi, a 63-year-old resident, reported that individuals who refused to sell their land to the government-owned power company were forcibly removed and had their homes demolished. Devi, a homemaker now living in a nearby village, stated that those who had agreed to sell their land were given a "nominal" compensation of 1 million Indian rupees each. Sandeep Gupta, assistant general manager of the THDC project, mentioned that all Haat residents voluntarily resettled and were fairly compensated. He also noted that government agencies are monitoring the project for any environmental damage, with no adverse impacts reported so far. The International Energy Agency highlighted hydropower as a significant source of clean electricity in a June 2021 report, urging countries to include it in their energy mix to reduce emissions. India currently has 46 gigawatts of hydropower capacity, a third of its potential according to government data. In 2019, the government officially recognized hydroelectric projects over 25 MW as a renewable energy source to increase capacity. Power companies were then required to use hydro for a portion of their supply, whereas before only smaller hydropower plants were considered renewable. Arun Kumar, a professor at the Indian Institute of Technology-Roorkee specializing in hydropower and renewable energy, emphasized that expanding India's hydropower sector goes beyond generating electricity. He noted that hydroelectric dams can also provide a reliable water supply for various purposes and bring benefits such as tourism, jobs, and infrastructure improvements to nearby communities, ultimately enhancing the quality of life in underdeveloped areas. Kumar, who is a board member of the International Hydropower Association based in London, highlighted the multifaceted advantages of large hydro projects. Himanshu Thakkar, coordinator of the South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People, believes that building more hydropower plants in India is not economically viable, as cheaper clean energy can be obtained from solar and wind projects. He stated that the cost of installing 1 MW of hydroelectric capacity is over 100 million rupees in India, which is double the cost for the same solar or wind-based capacity. Thakkar attributed India's focus on hydropower to corruption and weak regulation, which allow for inflated costs. Despite hydropower being seen as a green energy source, some environmentalists argue that it does more harm than good, increasing the risk of disasters. According to experts, hydro projects have the potential to cause environmental harm by clearing forests, diverting rivers, disrupting groundwater recharge, and moving large amounts of earth. This can increase the vulnerability of nearby communities to the impacts of more severe extreme weather events. S.P. Sati, an environmental science professor at the College of Forestry-Ranichauri in Uttarakhand, cited the devastating floods in the state in 2013 that resulted in the deaths of approximately 6,000 people. A committee appointed by India's Supreme Court found that hydroelectric projects worsened the flood damage by transporting huge amounts of debris downstream, burying low-lying communities. The committee also highlighted in a report that the construction processes of these projects, such as excavation and explosives use, could trigger landslides or slope failures. Sati expressed concern that ignoring the sensitivity, fragility, and carrying capacity of the terrain could lead to significant disasters with hydropower. The village head of Haat, Rajendra Prasad Hatwal, stated that residents would continue to protest and lobby the local government until the hydropower plant developers stopped using their village as a dumping site and properly compensated displaced families. He questioned India's heavy reliance on hydropower, especially in light of the disruptions experienced by countries like the United States, Brazil, and China due to climate change-driven droughts. Hatwal also highlighted the contradiction of clearing thousands of trees for a power plant while advocating for forest conservation to combat climate change, expressing frustration and confusion.