By Shishir Prashant 
PrashantNews
The water level in the reservoir of the mega 2400 Mw Tehri hydel project has been reduced considerably these days following which a portion of the submerged Old Tehri town is now visible.
Old Tehri remains one of the most emotional symbols of development and displacement in modern India. Located at the confluence of the Bhagirathi and Bhilangana rivers, Old Tehri was once a historic and culturally vibrant town surrounded by beautiful Himalayan hills. It served as the capital of the former Tehri princely state and was home to thousands of families, markets, temples and schools.
The town was submerged following the construction of the massive Tehri Dam project, one of the tallest dams in the world. The reservoir created by the dam gradually swallowed the old town in the early 2000s. Residents were relocated to New Tehri and other places, but many people still remember their lost homes and ancestral properties with deep sadness.
Though the Tehri Dam brought major benefits such as hydroelectric power generation, irrigation facilities and drinking water supply to several northern states including Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, the project also sparked protests led by environmentalists and social activists who claimed the ecological damage and human displacement was more than the benefits. ”
“Today, the waters of the Tehri lake hide beneath them an entire town filled with memories, history and culture. For many people of Uttarakhand, submerged Old Tehri represents both the price of progress and the pain of losing one’s roots,” said Kishore Upadhyaya, a BJP MLA from Tehri.