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Lower Subansiri project safe: NHPC

By Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Aug 5 � Top officials of National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) today claimed that the Lower Subansiri project has been designed in such a way that it can withstand the worst possible tremor shocks that could possibly be felt in the Himalayan foothills.

Talking to a select group of reporters, the officials further said that experts like Prof AS Arya of Department of Earthquake Engineering, IIT, Roorkie and Dr JR Kayal, former director general of Geological Survey of India unanimously maintained that the design � before it was approved -- had taken into consideration the maximum effect any tremor could have on the project site.

This was after the expert committee report of the State Government was referred to them for consideration.

�A thorough investigation has already been done on the project and even the height of the project was reduced from 257 metres to 116 metres (from the deepest foundation level) to suit all situations. In short, the project is very much safe,� the officials requesting anonymity said, adding, �the Lower Subansiri project is completely safe from all aspects of design, hydrology and seismology.�

�Going by the geological set-up, tremor of 8.5 magnitude is not possible in the site area but the design can withstand even that,� the officials asserted, referring to the reports of Prof AS Arya of Department of Earthquake Engineering, IIT, Roorkie and Dr JR Kayal, former director general of Geological Survey of India.

�As has been done, country�s best known experts have stated that there is no hesitation in recommending that the Peak Ground Acceleration (PGA) value, which indicates the magnitude of disturbances, need not be increased beyond 0.38g for the project,� the officials stated.

The NHPC had already set up six micro earthquake stations in the project site which helps in recording even the minor tremor activities, which are later sent to IIT, Roorkie for further analysis.

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