With the construction of Kol dam hydropower project ready to take off, the historic hot water spring Tattpani and the ancient Narsingh temple are likely to be submerged by the Sutlej, reports Pratibha Chauhan

Some may call it decimation of century-old culture while others may term it the price one has to pay for development. The historic hot-water sulphur springs at Tattpani, along with the ancient Narsingh temple will be lost forever as the entire hamlet along with many other villages will be submerged under the waters of the Sutlej, paving the way for the construction of a dam of the 800 MW Kol dam hydro-power project. 

Construction activity to enable relocation is in full swing in Sunni and adjoining areas, which are above the level of 646 mt, the height of the proposed dam. There are a handful, who are happy with the big money they have received as compensation for their house and land but for the majority getting uprooted from their homes, where generations have lived is painful.

“I am praying to God that my end should come before the dam water floods this area as it is impossible for me to imagine a life elsewhere,” says 84-year-old Mahant Salig Ram, the priest of the Narsingh temple, who wishes there should have been a Medha Patekar for them too. He rues the fact that people did not oppose the construction of the dam, which will bring the end of an era, which cannot be revived with the compensation money, however, huge it may be.

While for the temple priest it is the religious sanctity of the place that matters the most, there are others engaged in tourism related activity, who are clueless as to how they would start life afresh at a new place which is alien to them.

Besides the locals flocking Tattapani to pay obeisance at the ancient temple and bathe in the curative sulphur waters, the place has emerged as a major tourist destination, a must on the itinerary of tourists visiting Shimla. “Being located on the banks of Sutlej, with hot water springs flowing by, my restaurant and guest house was doing quite well but now I will have to start from a scratch,” says Kushal Chand, who has been provided with four biswas of land at Sunni by the government.

The new concrete bridge at a much elevated height, looking down upon the old road and the waters of the Sutlej flowing below is a constant reminder of the times to come. The old Tattapani bazaar too will submerge under water, as there is more hustle-bustle at the new market, which will be the main centre after the dam waters flood the area.

According to legend, Tattapani owes its existence to Parshuram, who carried with him the sulphur waters from Manikaran in Kullu to the present site. Rishi Jamdangni was holding a yagya where King Sahasarbahu was also present and on seeing the kamdhenu cow of the sage the king got tempted and asked for it. As the Rishi refused to part with the cow, the king decided to take it forcefully. It was then Rishi Jamdangni called his son, Parshuram, who was at that time bathing in the hot water springs at Manikaran in Kullu.

Seeing his father in trouble Parshuram immediately presented himself and the place where the water from his dhoti trickled down led to emergence of hot water springs, giving the place its name, Tattpani.

Notwithstanding the damage caused by the raging waters of the Sutlej, which has several times washed away houses in and around Tattpani, the residents would love to carry on living here. The damaged restaurant of the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC), still precariously hanging along the banks of the river is a reminder of the ferocity of the river that wreaked havoc in 2000. Many other houses had to be abandoned following the damage caused by the gushing waters of the river but the locals feel this is the peril of living along the banks.

“One can construct a house and carry the material things with you but you cannot possibly transplant trees, old temples, and other small things which have been created over centuries and are part and parcel of our daily life,” says Sarla Devi, sitting under the huge pipal tree in her compound. She says she will miss each and everything right from the tulsi plant in her courtyard to the cowshed.

With the National Hydro-Power Corporation (NHPC) still not giving a deadline for the evacuation of the area, people are hoping that work on the project is delayed for as long as possible. Majority who would be rendered houseless with the coming of the dam have got chunks of land and others have received 80 per cent of the compensation but the pain of leaving old memories, where generations have lived is unbearable.

The emotions and pain that the people are feeling are all too palpable as they plan for a life ahead, not too sure of the times to come.