’NHPC trying to sweep facts under the carpet’

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, January 24: The capacity of the Lower Subansiri dam on the Assam–Aruchal Pradesh border to withstand the downstream impact has been questioned by JN Khataniar, a noted engineer and an independent activist, who alleged that the NHPC Limited, which is executing the 2,000 MW project, is trying to sweep the facts under the carpet.

Taking part in a semir ‘Lower Subansiri Hydroelectric Power Project – The Truths’ organised by the Axom Jatiya Ga Sangram Parishad (AJGSP) here on Saturday, Khataniar said, “The NHPC has put stress mainly on the dam’s downstream impact, which could be more disastrous if two more reservoirs are not built at middle and upper Subansiri basin.”

According to Khataniar, the downstream impact posed by the single reservoir Lower Subansiri dam would be more disastrous and a 3–reservoir dam would have minimized its impact to a great extent.

He also questioned the change of the dam’s construction plan by the NHPC without taking the three reservoirs factor into consideration.

In his speech, the engineer said, “There is no record with the Brahmaputra Board related to integrated flood studies, including reservoir operation of the project, initiated by the NHPC Limited before taking up execution of the same.”

A report released by the NHPC in 2005 stated that it had carried out a detailed study on feasibility of three reservoirs with exclusive flood cushion but the present construction of the dam is not based on its earlier study, he pointed out.