Lower Subansiri hydroelectric power project completely safe, claims NHPC

By our Staff Reporter

Lakhimpur, July 12: tiol Hydro Power Corporation (NHPC) claims that the Lower Subansiri Hydro power project of 2000 Mega Watt is completely safe. The project has been designed to absorb floods to the tune of 500 cumecs over a 24-hour period. The current completion cost is Rs. 17,435 crore.

The Executive Director of NHPC, Rakesh told media persons that the project would start very soon within this year. The height of the dam was 171 metres before but now has been reduced to 116 metres. The base of the dam is 271 metres as of now. The base is wider in comparison to the height of the dam as many organizations opposed this project. Assam will get 533 MW from Subansiri Lower project, more than 25 per cent of the total power to be generated, and Assam will overcome power shortage. Early commissioning of Subansiri Lower Project is beneficial to the people of Assam to attenuate flood, facilitate irrigation, vigation, recreation and tourism.

He further said that for the time being dams were being closed and reducing the height of the dam would bring no gain, rather make the flood situation worse for the people of the district. The dam has never created flood and the water of the dam gates was controlled while releasing. NHPC currently is covering a loss of Rs 10 crore.

The Institute of Rural Magement has been hired to help NHPC for developing and maintaining the livelihood of the people. The Project Affected Families (PAFs) scheme has been provided under which project-affected people have been provided employment. So far, NHPC has employed 53 persons under permanent category. In addition, around 1,800 persons from Assam and 1,100 persons from Aruchal Pradesh are engaged with contractors under indirect employment.

Regarding the concerns of people towards downstream release, Rakesh said that a technical expert committee (Thatte Committee) was constituted by the Planning Commission in January, 2011 to examine the various issues concerning downstream.The committee submitted its report in July, 2012.Based on the Thatte Committee’s recommendation, Dam Design Review Panel (DDRP) was formed in December, 2012 by the Ministry of Power, Government of India.

A budget of Rs. 470 crore has been approved for benefit of downstream areas. This comprises protection measures and developmental works to be executed in downstream areas. River bank protection/ erosion control measures are being implemented that will ultimately cover the stretch upto 30 km downstream of the dam.

People of the district have different views towards NHPC. Many believe that no matter how many protection plans NHPC come up with, the dams will have a massive damage on the irrigation and nearby agricultural farms. However, few other locals believe that the dams of NHPC can solve power shortage problem of Assam as the state imports electricity from other States of the country.