NORTH LAKHIMPUR, June 24 � The NHPC is ready to resume work on the 2000-MW Lower Subansiri Hydro-electric Project (LSHEP) and is awaiting the green signal from the Centre. This was stated by Rakesh, executive director of NHPC, at a stakeholder�s meeting at Gerukamukh on Sunday.
Addressing a team of visiting journalists from North Lakhimpur and NGO workers, the ED explained that the LSHEP dam over the river Subansiri is not a mega dam. Significantly, he said that none of the anti-dam groups has filed any case in the court seeking a halt to the construction works of the Gerukamukh dam. He said that the court of law cannot give orders for suspension of construction work, as the NHPC started the work after obtaining clearance from the concerned departments of both the Centre and the State government.
Terming the dam as a people�s project, the NHPC ED also said that the PSU has been incurring daily losses of Rs 10 crore since the construction work had been halted at Gerukamukh in December 2011. Rakesh also informed that LSHEP is a multi-purpose dam aimed at controlling flood and erosion of the river in the downstream areas. He said that the dam would be technically sound and secure, and flood control would be its main priority.
The NHPC will also take safety measures up to 30 km on either side of the Subansiri river, he said. The ED also announced that Rs 470 crore has been earmarked for the protection of the people living in the downstream areas.
