GUWAHATI, May 5 - Some defects found in the public sector North Eastern Electric Power Corporation�s (NEEPCO�s) 600-MW Kameng Hydroelectric Project (KHEP) penstock have led to a snowballing controversy concerning the safety of this hydropower project�s structures.
Detractors of the power company allege that the Rs 6,179-crore power project is so built that it foretells a looming disaster for the downstream people living in Sonitpur district of Assam. Kameng is known as Jia Bharali in Sonitpur.
Echoing similar fears, the All Assam Students� Union has demanded deferment of the project�s construction activities until studies on its cumulative downstream impact and structural safety are completed.
However, when contacted, highly placed sources in the NEEPCO here claimed that rectification measures were taken up as soon as the defects were found in the penstock connected to the power house of the project at Kimi in West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh. The defects were found while conducting a pre-commission trial-run on March 12 last. Now, the rectification process is on to do away with these flaws.
NEEPCO sources said that a thorough inspection of the entire penstock has been undertaken by engaging agencies of international repute since March 20. The inspection is on. They assured that a thorough inspection will be carried out after the post-rectification period by conducting ultrasound sonography tests.
At least three months� time is required to complete the process, said sources in the NEEPCO, adding, except for the penstock, the dams on Bichom and Tenga, the two Kameng tributaries, are in sound condition. There is no threat from this project to the downstream people as it will be made operative only after removing the defects.
Meanwhile, disciplinary action has also been taken against the engineer in-charge of the hydro-mechanical work of the project in this connection, said the NEEPCO sources.
But the detractors of the power company are of the view that a two-inch gap was found in the welding work in the penstock, which led to leakage of water. This has raised questions about the quality of work and safety of the project. It is feared that this project would cause major disaster in the downstream Sonitpur district areas, said the detractors.
Meanwhile, the AASU has expressed serious apprehensions over the reports of defects found in the Kameng HEP. In a statement here, the students� body said that the defects in the project are results of executing the project sans any scientific study.
The student body reiterated its demand for resuming the execution of the project only after a scrupulous study on the cumulative downstream impact of the project on the Nameri National Park and Sonitpur areas, besides the safety of its structures. Until such studies are completed, all works concerning the construction of the project should be kept in abeyance, demanded the student body.
It also urged the State government to take urgent steps in this regard.
It needs mention here that construction of the project was started in January 2005 at an estimated cost of Rs 2,400 crore. But due to various unforeseen factors, its construction was delayed and escalation in prices of the construction materials and related services made the cost swell up to Rs 6,179 crore. The deadline for its construction was initially scheduled for December 2009 and the latest revised deadline is April 2018.