Agitation Against Lower Subansiri and Other Hydroelectric Projects
A number of representations have been received from various organizations especially on the issues of safety and downstream impact due to the construction of Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project (2000 MW) in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
On the concerns expressed by Government of Assam (GoA), NHPC constituted an Expert Group consisting of experts from IIT, Guwahati, Gauhati University and Dibrugarh University to study the downstream impact of Lower Subansiri HEP (2000 MW). The Expert Group has submitted its final report on 3.3.2011. Meanwhile, on the concerns expressed by GoA regarding structural safety of the dam, Planning Commission has appointed a two Member Technical Experts Committee to study the technical reports of the Expert Group.
Further, as desired by GoA, a Joint Steering Committee (JSC) has been constituted by NHPC on 19.04.2011 to suggest feasible and practicable remedial measures in the downstream areas with reference to Expert Group’s recommendations on downstream impact of Subansiri Lower Dam (Part-II) alongwith issues related to flood, bank erosion and sediment control.
As recommended by an Inter-Ministerial Group, headed by Secretary (Water Resources), cumulative environment impact assessment study of Lohit sub-basin has recently been completed by WAPCOS and studies for Subansiri and Siang sub-basins are on the anvil.
This information was given by Minister of State for Power Shri K.C. Venugopal in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.
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MA