Violation of environment laws by various hydroelectric projects in Uttarakhand has affected rivers in the state. Condition of the rivers has deteriorated substantially due to the projects. Important rivers such as the Bhagirathi and the Alaknanda are either disappearing downstream of dams or are being used as dumping ground.
 
 Garbage dumped in the Tehri dam reservoir has made the Bhagirathi ‘untouchable’ for even local residents. In a letter written to the Secretary, Union Ministry of Environment and Forests, T Chatterjee and member secretary of Uttarakhand Environment Protection and Pollution Control Board, Jairaj, Vimal Bhai of Matu Jansangathan has pointed out various anomalies involving green norm violations in hydel power plants.
 
 Jairaj said that the phenomenon is posing a serious threat to the existence of important rivers of the State. The Alaknanda and the Bhagirathi are the two headstreams of the Ganga, the lifeline of northern India. The letter states that though issues related to hydroelectric projects in Uttarakhand are being raised for some years now, no serious attempt has been made by either the MoEF or the UEPPCB to address them.