GUWAHATI, Jan 21 - The National Hydro Electric Power Corporation (NHPC) today said in a press release that it has set up an independent dam design review penal in early December last year in accordance with the recommendations of the Technical Experts Committee (TEC) comprising Dr CD Thatte and Dr MS Reddy, both ex-chairman of the Central Water Commission.
The committee, headed by the CWC chairman, is to review the design features of the Lower Subansiri Hydro Electric Project (LSHEP) dam and it has been given a time of three months to submit its report. The recommendations of this penal will be followed by the NHPC.
The NHPC has also agreed to constitute dam safety review panel with external experts for post construction inspection of the dam as recommended by the TEC. It has also accepted the TEC recommendation of urgent completion of study of dam break analysis and its clearance by the CWC.
The NHPC has agreed to set up a reservoir regulation committee under the chairmanship of a CWC member for operation of the reservoir so as to ensure optimum flood moderation benefits in accordance with TEC recommendation.
As recommended by the TEC, the NHPC has also agreed to run one unit of the LSHEP continuously to ensure minimum downstream flow at 250 cumecs and Central Electricity Authority has also consented for the same. This was also a recommendation of the TEC.
The TEC has recommended that incremental cost of non-structural flood proof measures by the Government of Assam due to dam break analysis shall be contributed by the LSHEP, Subansiri Middle and Upper projects. The NHPC agrees to bear incremental cost of non-structural flood proof measures due to dam break analysis of the LSHEP.
About allocation of power, the Government of India is actively considering the proposal supported by NHPC and also recommended by TEC to allocate 300 MW unallocated paid power to Assam. This would be in addition to 233 MW already allocated to Assam, thus making total power available from LSHEP at 533 MW. The NHPC also reiterated its commitment to implement the measures recommended by the TEC, including corporate social responsibility.
