Impact of Parbati Hydroelectric Power Project Stage-II on the Interdependence of Ethno-Botanical Resources and the Inhabitants of the Parbati Valley in Kullu District of Himachal Pradesh

The aim of the present study is to document ethno-botanical bio-diversity of Parbati Valley in Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh, interdependence of local communities with these resources and impact of Parbati Hydroelectric Project stage-II on both. The Parbati H.E. Project stage-II is a run of the river scheme proposed to harness hydro potential of lower reaches of the river Parbati with an installed capacity of 800 MW. The Parbati H.E. Project is part of the 2013 MW Parbati project, Asia’s biggest hydroelectric power project on Parbati river. During field trips to the study area between September 2017 and October 2018, a total of 218 plant species were inventoried belonging to 178 genera and 74 families used by the indigenous communities for life sustenance. Out of these, there are 166 medicinal plant species, consisting of 94 herbs, 47 shrubs and 25trees, which are used by local people for treatment of various diseases and ailments. During survey, plants species like Arnebia euchroma, Aconitum chasmanthum, Ajuga bracteosa, Dactylorhiza hatagirea, Picorhiza kurrooa and Atropa acuminate, Aconitum heterophyllum, Arnebia benthami, Fritillaria roylei, Angelica glauca have been found to be critically endangered due to construction of hydro-electric dam and allied activities. A perception survey was conducted in five sample adjoining villages namely Tosh, Tulga, Pulga, Sheela and Nakhtan with a population of 1826 villagers from 414 households to ascertain the impact of Parbati H.E. Project on their lives and biodiverity