Environmentalist Vinod Prasad Juglan on Thursday opposed the proposed seaplane operations at the Pashulok Ganga Barrage in Rishikesh. He said the project could pose serious risks to the local ecology and endangered species.
Juglan, a member of the Namami Gange programme’s Dehradun Zila Samiti, said the reservoir is home to crocodiles, endangered Gangetic dolphins and the Golden Mahseer fish. He said regular seaplane operations could disturb the aquatic ecosystem and increase the chances of human-wildlife conflict in the area.
His remarks came a few days after successful landing trials of a 19-seater seaplane were conducted at the Ganga barrage on April 6. Juglan said turbulence created by seaplane engines during take-off and landing may disturb aquatic life and affect breeding cycles of several species, including turtles.
He added that restricted access to water for wild elephants coming from the nearby Rajaji National Park could push them towards human settlements. This may disrupt traffic on the Neelkanth Mahadev route and lead to more incidents of man-animal conflict.
He further said noise generated by aircraft engines could harm aquatic species as well as birds living along the riverbanks. Juglan also stressed that the Ganga holds deep cultural and religious significance for millions of people.
According to him, turning a pilgrimage destination into an adventure tourism hub could hurt religious sentiments. He urged authorities to prioritise pilgrimage activities over tourism projects. “We should focus on pilgrimage development rather than adventure tourism. Changing the character of this sacred place affects the faith of devotees,” he said.
Juglan referred to the Skanda Purana, stating that several rivers mentioned in the text, such as Rambha, Chandrabhaga and Saraswati, have already disappeared due to neglect. He said increasing human interference in forest areas is forcing wildlife to move towards urban spaces. He appealed to the government to reconsider and postpone the seaplane project at the Pashulok Ganga Barrage to protect ecological balance in the region.
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