The destroyed houses of Devi and her neighbors in Haat village are scattered among construction waste from a nearby hydroelectric power plant. A Hindu temple between the village and the plant is also surrounded by debris. Devi expressed frustration with the situation, questioning the development that takes away homes from the poor to provide electricity to others. Over 240 households in the village lost their homes during the construction of the 444-megawatt hydropower project on the Alaknanda river. The power plant being financed by the World Bank is just one of many hydroelectric projects underway or already in operation in India's Himalayan states, with the goal of reducing the country's carbon emissions. The government believes that hydropower, along with solar and wind energy, is essential for India to achieve its target of obtaining half of its energy from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030. Proponents of hydropower point out that it generates large amounts of clean electricity and can be quickly scaled up when solar and wind projects, which rely on weather conditions, are unable to meet demand. However, critics, including environmental groups and communities impacted by hydroelectric projects, argue that the significant environmental and social costs associated with such projects are difficult to justify. For example, Devi, a 63-year-old resident, recounted how officials from the government-owned Tehri Hydro Development Corporation forcibly acquired land from locals, with those who refused being forcibly removed and detained at a police station while their homes were demolished. Devi, a homemaker living in a nearby village, mentioned that those who had agreed to sell their homes were compensated with 1 million Indian rupees each. Sandeep Gupta, the assistant general manager of the THDC project, stated that the residents of Haat willingly resettled themselves and were fairly compensated. He also mentioned that the project was being monitored by government agencies to ensure there was no environmental damage, and so far, no adverse impact had been reported. According to a report by the International Energy Agency in June 2021, hydropower was described as the "forgotten giant of clean electricity" and countries were encouraged to include it in their energy mix to achieve net-zero emissions. India currently has 46 gigawatts of installed hydropower capacity, which is only a third of its potential generation capacity based on government figures. In 2019, the government officially designated hydroelectric projects over 25 MW as a renewable energy source to increase capacity. Previously, 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 has benefits beyond generating electricity. He highlighted that hydroelectric dams can also provide a reliable water supply for various purposes and bring development to nearby areas, including attracting tourists, creating jobs, and improving infrastructure. Kumar, who is a board member of the International Hydropower Association based in London, believes that such projects can enhance the quality of life in underdeveloped regions. Himanshu Thakkar, coordinator of the South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People, argued that investing in more hydropower plants is not financially viable in India, as solar and wind projects offer cheaper clean energy alternatives. Thakkar pointed out that the cost of installing 1 MW of hydroelectric capacity in India is over 100 million rupees, which is double the cost of solar or wind-based capacity. He believes that corruption and weak regulation are the main reasons why Indian authorities prioritize hydropower. Thakkar also expressed concerns about the lack of regulatory oversight, which could lead to inflated costs. Despite hydropower being considered a green energy source, some environmentalists believe it causes more harm than good. According to experts, hydro projects can have negative impacts on nearby communities by clearing forests, diverting rivers, and disrupting groundwater recharge. This makes these communities more vulnerable to extreme weather events. S.P. Sati, an environmental science professor, highlighted the devastating floods in Uttarakhand in 2013 that killed around 6,000 people. A committee appointed by India's Supreme Court found that hydroelectric projects had worsened the flood damage by causing rushing water to carry debris downstream, burying low-lying areas. The committee also warned that construction activities like digging and explosives use could trigger landslides or slope failure. Sati expressed concern that ignoring the sensitivity, fragility, and carrying capacity of the terrain could lead to significant disasters with hydropower. The village head, Rajendra Prasad Hatwal, stated that residents would continue to protest and lobby the local government until the hydropower developers stopped using their land as a dumping site and adequately compensated displaced families. He questioned India's heavy reliance on hydropower, citing examples of other countries like the United States, Brazil, and China that have faced disruptions in hydropower generation due to climate change-driven droughts. Hatwal also raised concerns about the clearing of thousands of trees for the power plant, questioning the contradiction with efforts to save forests to combat climate change. He described the situation as confusing and frustrating.