GUWAHATI, March 28 � Faced with a number of problems �ranging from civil unrest to geological surprises,� the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC), which is executing the 2000-MW Lower Subansiri Hydroelectric Power Project (LSHEP), has constituted a Dam Design Review Panel (DDRP) to come out of the mess, reported the energy portal energylineindia.com in a recent report.
Moreover, the Central Sector power company has also roped in the National Committee on Seismic Design Parameters (NCSDP) to study the seismic activity of the region. The first meeting for the purpose was held on March 15 this year.
A sub-committee of experts drawn from the Central Water Commission (CWC), Geological Survey of India (GSI), Central Soil and Materials Research Station (CSMRS) of the Ministry of Water Resources and NHPC has also been formed to reassess the foundation competency of the rock on which the project is founded.
The NHPC is now awaiting the reports on foundation competency and the comments from NCSDP on seismicity that are to be discussed in the second DDRP meeting to be held this month.
The first meeting of the DDRP was held in February. In this meeting, the DDRP deliberated on issues regarding the foundation competency, earthquake parameters and energy dissipation parameters, the energylineindia.com report said.
NHPC version: However, highly-placed sources in the NHPC told this newspaper that the DDRP was constituted by the Union Power Ministry following the recommendations of the Dr CD Thatte-Dr MS Reddy Committee, which studied the LSHEP.
The DDRP referred the issue of seismic activity of the region to the NCSDP for re-examination. The NCSDP had earlier cleared the site for construction of the 2000-MW project.
The DDRP is meeting frequently and the sub-committee referred to in the energylineindia report is a sub-committee of the DDRP, said the NHPC sources.
