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NHPC report in two months

By Kalyan Barooah

NEW DELHI, May 25 � The controversy generated over mega dam projects upstream of Brahmaputra river in neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh is likely to take a new turn with a report of National Hydro Power Corporation (NHPC) Limited commissioned study expected in two months.

Divulging this, Chairman-cum-Managing Director NHPC, S K Garg said that report of the downstream studies on the impact of the hydro power projects is expected in two months. �Whatever suggestions are made in the report, we will implement�, the CMD, whose company is executing major projects in Arunachal Pradesh, said.

However, execution of the hydro power projects upstream in Arunachal Pradesh may have implications for Assam and the State�s concerns are genuine, admitted Director Technical, DP Bhargava.

The Government of Assam should approach Central Water Commission (CWC) for an integrated study on impact of the proposed hydro power projects coming up upstream, Director Technical told this newspaper.

�The NHPC has commissioned the study concerning its projects in Arunachal Pradesh. But we are not the only player in the State�, he added.

The NHPC has entrusted Wadia Institute of Himalayan Studies with paleaoseismic study and an oil company with conducting 2 D seismic study, said Executive Director (Engineering Geology and Geo Technical Division), Dr Gopal Dhawan.

The interim report has been already submitted and the final report is expected shortly. In a bid to avoid further controversy, the NHPC has also added the concerns expressed by various NGOs and environmental groups besides All Assam Student Union in the terms of reference of the two study groups, said Bhargava.

However, NHPC is unlikley to accept the demand, which also has the support of the State Government, for constrtuction of bunds along both the banks of the river. �We are willing to construct bunds till some portion near our project. But not along the entire stretch,� he said, arguing that it would lead to sharp rise in project cost.

Assam is being offered 200 MW of free power from 2000 MW Subansiri Hydro Power Project, besides cheap power at a cost of Rs 2 per unit. At least 14 per cent of the dam has been completed. About 65 per cent of HRT excavation has been completed and overt lining is also under progress. The project is expected to be commissioned by December 2012.

Meanwhile, the Director Technical observed that some of the apprehensions are misplaced. He said run-of-the-river projects have some flood cushion and are not as dangerous as projected. On the other hand, projects with water retention dams run the risk of being breached leading to flash floods downstream.

Meanwhile, the CMD addressing a press conference on Tuesday said that the exercise of public hearing has to be redone in the case of 3000 MW Dibang Project because of the delay in the process.

�We have to redo the entire exercise according to the environment clauses,� the CMD said, adding the exercise was slated to start in June-July.

This is a very big project with an estimated investment of Rs 17,000 crore. NHPC is also executing Tawang I and II, which are under government clearance, he said.

Meanwhile, allaying apprehension over the controversial Tipaimukh Dam Project, the CMD said they are in contact with Bangladesh. �We have conveyed that they would be better off with the project as there would be less floods downstream because of the project,� he claimed.

The 1500 MW Tipaimukh Project would also ensure availability of water during the lean season. The apprehensions expressed are misplaced, as project is not a water retention venture but run-of-the-river project, he said.

The NHPC has signed two MoUs with Government of Manipur including one for Tipaimukh and the other for 66 MW Loktak downstream. Both the projects are joint ventures with NHPC holding the lion�s share.

Meanwhile, NHPC is spreading its wings to neighbouring Bhutan and Myanmar. In Myanmar, it has been engaged to undertake additional investigation and update the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for 1200 MW Tamanthi and 642 MW Shwezaye Hydroelectric projects.

�Myanmar Government had aksed NHPC to update the DPR in 18 months� time. Now they have asked us to compress the time and submit the report by March 2011. A couple of weeks ago a delegation visited Myanamr and had a detailed discussion.

�They have expressed the desire to have only NHPC on board to develop the two projects. We are working on presenting an interim report within this year. The two projects would require investment of Rs 25,000 crore including Rs 7000 crore toward transmission cost,� the CMD said.

In keeping with the Action Plan signed between India and Bhutan for development of 10,000 MW by 2020, NHPC has signed agreements with the Royal Government of Bhutan for preparation of DPR of 670 MW Chamkharchhu � I and 1800 MW Kuri Gongri, he said.

Meanwhile, NHPC has earned its highest ever profit after tax of Rs 2,090.50 crore, which is 94.43 per cent higher than the net profit after tax Rs 1,075.22 crore earned last fiscal.

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