The nod to the dam – which was first approved in 1976 and work on which was halted in 1992 due to lack of funds – has reignited a decades-old debate, with environmentalists again red-flagging the project as a “flood risk” to Delhi and “ecological threat to eh Himalayas.”

The financial approval to the 300 MW Lakhwar Multiplipurpose Project, which will straddle Dehradun and Tehri districts with its 22 kilometre long reservoir, was given by the ministry on Wednesday. The project is now awaiting final clearance from the Union cabinet.

The multipurpose project will provide drinking water and electricity to six states – Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi. It will also provide irrigation on 33,780 hectares. For the project, 90% of the cost to be spent by the Centre while the remaining 10% will be borne by states.

“The National Green Tribunal (NGT) had given its clearance to the project on February 2 this year. We now have permission from the Jal Shakti Ministry, too,” said Uttarakhand power minister Harak Singh Rawat.

The project will have a water storage capacity of 78.8 million cubic metres. Nearly 780 hectares of private land has been transferred for the project. Over 850 families have already been awarded compensation for their land.

His resignation comes in the wake of uncertainty over the Election Commission announcing by-polls in the state ahead of the assembly elections which are due next year.

Tirat Singh Rawat, a BJP MP, would have had to get elected as an MLA within six months of assuming office if he were to continue his term.

Rawat, who replaced Trivendra Singh as the Chief Minister this year, was summoned to the national capital by the central BJP leadership on Wednesday. This had raised speculations that he may be asked to step down from his post.

Meanwhile, the Uttarakhand BJP will hold its legislature party meeting at 3 pm on Saturday. The meeting will be chaired by state BJP president Madan Kaushik, state BJP media in charge Manveer Singh Chauhan said.

All party MLAs have been asked to attend the meeting, he added.

Sources told TOI that the poll panel was unlikely to hold by-elections in Haldwani and Gangotra the two seats that are vacant since there was less than a year to go before the term of the assembly ends on March 23, 2022.