GD Agrawal: A Gandhian from Chitrakoot

The Uttarakhand government recently put off two major hydel projects, the 480 Mw Pala Maneri project and the 400 Mw Bhaironghati project, buckling under the man's arguments.

Meet GD Agrawal, a Gandhian, who the locals initially thought was Sunder Lal Bahuguna. The environmental engineer is giving his all to preserve the environment. Shishir Prashant profiles this man of convictions who has trained some of the country's top environmentalists.

When GD Agrawal hit the headlines after he began an indefinite fast at the hill town of Uttarkashi on June 13, protesting against construction of a series of hydel projects, some people mistook him as Sunder Lal Bahuguna.

But when news stories began appearing in local dailies and TV channels, it was realised that Agrawal was not Bahuguna. Agrawal came from Chitrakoot in Madhya Pradesh to hold a protest akin to Bahuguna's.

Those who are close to the man say he has left an indelible mark in his own field "" environmental engineering. Agrawal, a Ph D from the University of California and former head of the department of civil and environmental engineering at IIT Kanpur, was also the first member secretary of the central pollution control board and instrumental in bringing reforms there.

Agrawal, a bachelor, is known for his Gandhian thoughts as he not only washes his own clothes and cooks for himself, but also sweeps his entire Chitrakoot cottage the way Gandhi used to do. Even at 76, the septuagenarian's chief mode of transportation is the bicycle.

Top environmentalists like Magsaysay awardee Rajendra Singh and CSE founder late Anil Agarwal were his students. The list is endless. Another Magsaysay awardee MC Mehta holds Agrawal in high-esteem.

While fasting on the banks of the Bhagirathi in Uttarkashi, Agrawal took out his pen and paper and drafted a plan for the conservation of the Gangotri, a fragile area from where the Bhagirathi originates.

Agrawal thinks the holy river may become dry, if measures are not taken immediately for its conservation. He points out that downstream of Uttarkashi, vast stretches of the river are getting drier.

He also warns that unabated construction will have a far-reaching impact on the ecology of the area, especially on marine life. After observing a fast for nearly 17 days, Agrawal broke it on June 30 following assurance from the centre that an expert committee has been set up to find ways so that "perennial flow" of the Bhagirathi could continue. The committee will give its report in three months.

Agrawal reportedly is not happy after breaking the fast and is refusing to take cereals.

Agrawal says the Bhagirathi, upstream of Uttarkashi, should be spared of any work that disturbs its natural flow-regime, ecology and purity.