- Topics
- Feature
- Opportunities & Events
- About
- Hindi Portal
- Data
- Topics
- Feature
- Opportunities & Events
- About
- Hindi Portal
- Data
In Uttar Pradesh’s Mirzapur district, about 50 kilometres from Varanasi, monsoon-fed waterfalls like Vindham Falls and Lakhaniya Dari come alive every year. But as summer sets in, these streams dry up; water becomes scarce not only at the waterfalls but also across the surrounding landscape.
Over the past decade, this already fragile balance has come under increasing strain. The lush green stretches around Vindham Falls now face a serious threat from a coal-based power plant being developed in Dadri, Mirzapur. What was once a seasonal challenge linked to rainfall patterns is now at risk of becoming a permanent crisis.
Rivers in the region are already struggling to sustain local needs. Yet, under the proposed arrangement, they are expected to shoulder an additional burden by supplying water to the power plant under construction. If local river water is diverted for the project, the impact will extend far beyond the plant site. Vindham Falls could lose what little seasonal flow it receives, nearly 5,000 farming families may be left without adequate irrigation, and the water supply to the Barkachha campus of Banaras Hindu University could also be affected.
The project’s regulatory history reflects long-standing concerns. In March 2013, Welspun Energy first applied for Environmental Clearance for a 1,320 MW coal-fired power plant in Mirzapur. The Expert Appraisal Committee rejected the proposal. A second application submitted in November 2013 was postponed. Although clearance was eventually granted in August 2014, the National Green Tribunal cancelled it in December 2016, ruling that the clearance process was unconstitutional. The tribunal directed the company to immediately halt work and restore the area to its original condition.
Mirzapur Thermal Energy (UP) Private Limited, a subsidiary of Adani Power Limited, has proposed a 2×800 MW coal-fired ultra-supercritical thermal power plant in the Madihan Forest Range, at Dadri Khurd village in Mirzapur district. The total planned capacity of the project is 1,600 MW, and it will occupy approximately 365.19 hectares of land. Of this, 364.57 hectares fall under non-forest land, while 0.62 hectares lie within forest land inside the plant boundary.
Once the plant becomes operational, it is expected to require 36 million cubic metres of water, or about 360 crore litres, for electricity generation. This water is proposed to be sourced from the Ganga River. From the river, water will be transported to the Upper Khajuri Reservoir, and from there, it will be carried onward to the power plant site at Dadri for use in power generation.
The proposed project site is located around 30 kilometres from Mirzapur town. By road, the distance from Mirzapur to the Upper Khajuri Reservoir is approximately 24 kilometres, while the reservoir lies about 7 kilometres from the proposed plant site. The elevation of the power plant location is about 630 feet above sea level. In comparison, the Upper Khajuri Dam is situated at around 510 feet, while the Ganga River flows at roughly 260 feet.
The planned water pipeline will pass through several reserved forest areas, including the Barkachha, Danti, Madihan, and Patehra reserve forests. These forests are home to at least six Schedule I wildlife species, including sloth bears, chinkaras, and vultures. The reservoir area is also known to have a very low population of swamp deer and mugger crocodiles.
Any alteration in the water levels of the Upper Khajuri Reservoir has wider implications. The Upper and Lower Khajuri reservoirs are connected through the Khajuri River, which means that changes upstream will directly affect the Lower Khajuri Reservoir as well.
The rain-fed Upper Khajuri Dam was constructed in 1937 at a cost of approximately ₹6.4 million to irrigate 42 villages in the area. Eleven gates were installed to release water in case of overflowing, but due to a lack of adequate rainfall for several years, the dam has not been able to fill. The dam is already low on water, leading to drought in the fields of the farmers in the area, resulting in a lack of water. The total area of agricultural land irrigated by the Upper Khajuri Dam is 8367.5 hectares, while the dam's water storage capacity is 44.74 MCM (440 crore litres). Of this, 36 MCM of water is being discussed for the power plant. Farmers' biggest concern is that if this happens, their fields will never grow crops. The main crops here are paddy, wheat, gram, and pigeon pea. And paddy cultivation requires the most water.
The Upper Khajuri Reservoir was built with important features and uses in mind. The reservoir's water is connected to the Lower Khajuri Reservoir via the Khajuri River. The Khajuri River flows near the South Campus (Rajiv Gandhi South Campus) of Banaras Hindu University and joins Mirzapur's two famous waterfalls, Vindham Falls and Kharanja Falls.
Farmers in the region have expressed concerns that the project will lead to severe water shortages once it becomes operational, triggering protests by farmers’ organisations and local residents. Sharda Prasad Mishra, president of the Jai Jawan Jai Kisan Jagran Manch, submitted a memorandum to the District Magistrate outlining these concerns.
In a leaflet accompanying the memorandum, he stated, “The Upper Khajuri Dam, located within the Mirzapur Canal Block, is very old. This dam has been used to supply irrigation canals, including the Upper Khajuri Right, the Lower Khajuri System, and the Bharpura Canal. However, with this project, a proposal has been made to divert farmers' water to the power plant. This dam also supplies water for the Jal Jeevan Mission’s Har Ghar Jal Se Nal Yojana.”
Raising questions about the impact on agriculture, Mishra asked, “If the reservoir water is given to the Adani Group, how will farmers irrigate their fields?” He warned that such a diversion would result in significant losses for farmers in the Pahadi Block and City Block.
Local farmers say water scarcity is already a pressing issue. Shiv Shekhar Baudh (37), a farmer from Kotwa Pandey village, explained, “We own 1.5 bighas of land, and we use water from the Upper Khajuri Dam. Water is already scarce in this area.” He added that after three years, water was supplied from the dam for irrigation this summer. “When the Adani company takes away the dam's water, the surrounding waterfalls, rivers, and streams will dry up. Then how will we farm? Many people will face hardship. Farmers will face a major problem. Millions of people will be affected by this,” he says.
Baudh also pointed out that the impact would extend beyond agriculture. He noted that tourism-related livelihoods depend on the region’s waterfalls, which attract large numbers of visitors. If these waterfalls dry up, he said, tourism would also come to a halt.
Similar concerns were raised by Babulal Maurya (55), a farmer and owner of around five bighas of land in Kanchanpur village. He said, “This summer, water was provided from the Upper Khajuri Dam for irrigation. But when the Adani plant diverts Ganga water to the Upper Khajuri Reservoir, the reservoir's water will become polluted.” He added that “the dam is the source of the Chunari River, and Vindham Falls owes its existence to the Upper Khajuri Dam.”
According to Maurya, when the Upper Khajuri Dam is full, water availability remains stable. However, “when the dam is empty, even drinking water becomes a problem.”
Water for irrigation is already scarce in the region, and concerns are growing about the situation once the project becomes operational. Banwari Lal Maurya (48), a farmer from Danti village, expressed anxiety over the future of agriculture in the area. He explained that irrigation currently depends on Khadanja Fall and the Lower Khajuri Dam but warned that if water is diverted from the Upper Khajuri Dam for the power plant, farmers will be left with insufficient supplies.
“Our village is located on a hill, and if we don't get water from the dam, we won't be able to irrigate our fields. We already suffer from droughts, and when the company takes the dam water, it will cause immense loss to us farmers,” he said.
Banwari Lal added that his family of seven owns four bighas of land and depends entirely on farming for survival. Without assured irrigation, he said, farming would no longer be viable, forcing families like his to migrate in search of work.
Opposition to the thermal power plant has also come from the academic community. On September 18, 2013, following a signature campaign by around 500 students of Banaras Hindu University’s Rajiv Gandhi South Campus, the then BHU Registrar wrote to the Ministry of Environment and Forests, objecting to the project.
The letter noted that a 1320 MW coal-based thermal power plant was proposed in Dadri Khurd village, approximately 10 kilometres from the Barkachha-based campus. The Rajiv Gandhi South Campus, a constituent campus of BHU, offers more than 20 undergraduate and postgraduate programmes and houses a large population of students, faculty, non-teaching staff, and their families.
The communication warned that the project could have adverse health impacts on campus residents. It also highlighted that the entire drinking water supply of the Rajiv Gandhi South Campus comes from the Lower Khajuri Dam, which in turn is fed by the Upper Khajuri Dam. Any industrial activity affecting the Upper Khajuri Dam, the letter stated, would jeopardise the campus’s water supply. It therefore urged that the project be relocated away from the Rajiv Gandhi South Campus and the Barkachha area to protect the region’s climate and environmental integrity.
Serious allegations have also emerged regarding land acquisition for the project. Between 2011 and 2012, the Welspun company registered land belonging to 45 residents of Dadri Khurd village, including members of Dalit and tribal communities. Villagers allege that inducements, threats, and intimidation—along with the threat of false legal cases—were used to force land registration.
Farmers said, “Our land is gone, and we received only partial compensation. Our children are starving today because of the Adani plant. Earlier, the plant officials said they would provide 2 jobs to every household. Now, no one even comes to enquire about us. We don't even have money for two meals a day. If this continues, we will have to commit suicide. We demand that the government either shut down this power plant or pay us the full price for our land.”
Jadawati Devi (40), a Dalit woman from Sukhnai village, expressed anger over the construction of the thermal power plant in the area.
Amrit Lal Bind (32), also from Mirzapur, accused the company of forcibly acquiring land. “We used to live in Dadri Khurd village, where we owned 5 bighas of land. We were farmers. But in 2011, the Welspun company came to our village. The company intimidated and threatened the villagers, forcibly taking people away and registering their land at a rate of 10,000 rupees per bigha,” he said.
He added that his family now lives three kilometres away from their original village and cultivates rice on leased land, paying 5,000 rupees per bigha. “The people of our village even staged a protest at the District Magistrate's office, but no one listened. Then we went to Lucknow to meet Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. We submitted a complaint letter there, but still, nothing happened,” he said.
Bitna Devi (45), a resident of Sukhnai village, said the village head had earlier allotted land on lease, but once the company arrived, inducements were offered. When those failed, she alleged, her son was forcibly taken away and the land was registered in the company’s name. She said the company acquired five bighas of her land at 20,000 rupees per bigha.
“The government had given us poor people this land for farming. But now even that has been taken away by powerful people. Our land has been snatched away. Our livelihood depended on the forest, and now even that is gone. I have to work as a labourer to support my two children, and I can't sleep at night,” she said.
Residents have also raised concerns about pollution from the proposed power plant. Amrit Lal Bind expressed fears that emissions would make the area unliveable. “The plant being built here will cause so much pollution that our lives will become unbearable. The pollution will be so severe that no one will be able to live within a 5-kilometre radius,” he said.
He added that the construction of a large chimney adjacent to forest land would worsen pollution levels, making it impossible for nearby communities to continue living in the area. He also noted that villagers had submitted their demands to the District Magistrate, but no action had been taken.
The proposed Adani Group power plant is located within the Marihan forest range, an ecologically sensitive area that supports several protected wildlife species. In 2019, the Divisional Forest Officer had sent a proposal to the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department to declare the area a Bear Conservation Reserve, though no action has been taken so far.
Environmental concerns surrounding the project are compounded by its regulatory history. Earlier, violations at the Welspun Energy Power Project led the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to revoke its environmental clearance. After the Adani Group acquired the project, legal cases related to the thermal power plant have remained pending before both the NGT and the Supreme Court.
According to Rakesh Kumar, Divisional Forest Officer, the Adani Power Group has not yet received environmental clearance. He stated that while paperwork has been submitted, the compliance report required for in-principle approval is still pending, and therefore the environmental clearance (NOC) has not been granted.
The access route to the under-construction plant passes through forest land. On this, Rakesh Kumar said, “Our forest access road was built to provide access to the forest. The company is using the same access road.”
He clarified that no formal proposal has been sent to declare the forest a bear conservation reserve. “The Forest Department has conducted a survey through an environmental committee and kept the document on file, which mentions declaring it a bear conservation reserve, but no formal proposal has been sent,” he said.
On the proposed pipeline to carry water through forest land to the Upper Khajuri Dam, he said, “The company is working on laying the pipeline underground. The Pollution Control Board has already given the company Environmental Clearance (EC).” He added that a road corridor would be required and that a mandatory biodiversity assessment would be carried out by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) over a two-month period, with the company required to comply with all standards set by the assessment team.
Meanwhile, the matter remains under judicial consideration. An appeal has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking an immediate halt to construction, citing the project’s location within the proposed Sloth Bear Conservation Reserve.
The petition also calls for an investigation into the grant of Environmental Clearance dated 23.09.2025 and Stage-I Forest Clearance dated 09.09.2025, noting that these approvals were issued even after the Supreme Court issued a notice on 12.08.2025, and before responses were filed by all respondents, including the State of Uttar Pradesh. The plea seeks such an investigation while the proceedings are still pending.
We will now examine the potential damage to this area. If this power plant is built in this area, Vindham Falls and the surrounding forest area will suffer the following damage. These potential damages are also mentioned in the documents submitted to the court.
According to the documents submitted to the court (Annexure A19), fly ash, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and other toxic gases emitted from coal-fired thermal power plants already established in the country have caused an increase in the temperature of the region.
These emissions have led to a decline in forest and wildlife conservation, a deterioration in forest land quality, and a negative impact on the entire ecosystem.
Water conservation, groundwater recharge, and surface water storage quality decline.
The water-carrying capacity of rivers and water quality are also severely impacted.
An increase in respiratory illnesses among the local population and adverse impacts on tourism and archaeological sites have been reported.
In light of these experiences, experts have expressed concern that forest degradation will lead to an increase in human-wildlife conflict.
A 24-kilometre-long railway line is proposed to transport coal to the plant, which will pass entirely through the reserve forest.
According to court documents, no permission application has been filed for the diversion of forest land for this railway corridor.
This same forest route was used to transport construction materials without forest clearance.
On April 1, 2025, a forest fire was reported in the same area, destroying approximately 30 hectares of forest area.
The project proposes a 33-kilometre pipeline to bring water from the Ganga River, which will run through the Upper Khajuri Reservoir to the plant.
This pipeline will also pass through a large portion of the reserve forest, but no active forest clearance application has been filed for it on the Parivesh portal.
An old application (FP/UP/THE/14236/2015) existed, but it is no longer listed as a pending project on the MoEFCC's Parivesh portal.
High-tension transmission lines will be required to transport the power generated by the plant to the grid, which will cross several reserve forest areas.
According to documents, no forest clearance application has been filed for this either. (Annexure A21, A22 – Project Site and River Map).
On January 21, 2023, the complainant filed a complaint with the Chief Conservator of Forests, Mirzapur, stating that the existing footpath was being converted into a three-metre-wide road using heavy machinery, causing damage to vegetation and rock formations.
Following this complaint, the MoEFCC intervened and temporarily halted the construction.
In June 2024, illegal construction, land levelling, tree-felling, excavation, and boundary wall construction were again reported.
Despite the complainant sending a complaint, along with photographs, to the Secretary, MoEFCC, and state officials, no effective action was taken.
Following media reporting on the matter, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) took suo motu cognisance and registered a case (OA No. 883/2024 – “Experts Flag Large-Scale Clearing of Vegetation in Mirzapur Forest”).
The Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board issued a show-cause notice to the project promoter on November 30, 2024, after inspections found precast boundary walls and levelling work underway.
Dr Ravindra Khaiwal, Professor of Environmental Health at PGIMER, Chandigarh, said electricity demand in states like Uttar Pradesh is already high and that clean energy alternatives should be explored. If thermal power plants are pursued, he stressed the need for strict pollution monitoring from inception through operation.
He noted that older thermal power plants have shown negative health impacts on nearby populations. While new technology can control fly ash emissions, he emphasised the need for extreme care in transporting and storing bottom ash. He also recommended the formation of an independent monitoring committee to ensure regulatory compliance.
The future of the project now rests with the courts and the government. Local residents continue to protest the perceived threat to Vindham Falls and surrounding forests, supported by civil society groups that periodically raise concerns about environmental and social impacts.