The People's Science Institute (PSI) is an NGO

Non-governmental organization

A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...

 in Dehradun

Dehradun

- Geography :The Dehradun district has various types of physical geography from Himalayan mountains to Plains. Raiwala is the lowest point at 315 meters above sea level, and the highest points are within the Tiuni hills, rising to 3700 m above sea level...

 who promote natural resource management

Natural resource management

Natural resource management refers to the management of natural resources such as land, water, soil, plants and animals, with a particular focus on how management affects the quality of life for both present and future generations ....

, conservation biology

Conservation biology

Conservation biology is the scientific study of the nature and status of Earth's biodiversity with the aim of protecting species, their habitats, and ecosystems from excessive rates of extinction...

, and sustainable development

Sustainable development

Sustainable development is a pattern of resource use, that aims to meet human needs while preserving the environment so that these needs can be met not only in the present, but also for generations to come...

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Founding

The stated mission of the organization is "To help eradicate poverty through the empowerment of the poor and the productive, sustainable and equitable use of available human and natural resources."

Ganges pollution

The PSI regularly speaks out about action to be taken to reduce pollution of the Ganges.

River damming

G. D. Agrawal

G. D. Agrawal

Dr. G. D. Agrawal is a respected doyen of environmental engineers in India. After a long career, he continues to teach and inspire students as an Honorary Professor of Environmental Sciences at the Mahatma Gandhi Chitrakoot Gramodaya Vishwavidyalaya, in Chitrakoot, Madhya Pradesh...

, a chair of the People's Science Institute, undertook a fast to protest government inaction on Ganges preservation. Specifically he was seeking a halt to construction of the Loharinag Pala Hydro Power Project

Loharinag Pala Hydro Power Project

Loharinag Pala Hydro Power Project is a run-of-the-river hydroelectricity generating project planned by the National Thermal Power Corporation Ltd to have an output capacity of 600 MW...

 and the Pala Maneri project along Bhagirathi River

Bhagirathi River

The Bhāgīrathī is a turbulent Himalayan river in the state of Uttarakhand, India, that is the source stream of the Ganges—the major river of the Gangetic plain of Northern India and the holy river of Hinduism.-Etymology:...

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Other PSI staff have written similarly on topics relating to mass relocation of water for hydroengineering projects.