NHPC assures of completing major components of Subansiri Lower Project in due time

The National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) have been working nights to complete the making of  major components of Subansiri Lower Project which will be ready in due time so that two units (500 MW) of the project can be commissioned by August, 2022.

Due to protesters obstructing, the work of the dam got delayed but in the lockdown period the work was resumed and maximum construction was  done during that period.

Meanwhile, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Energy (2021-22) Chaired by Rajiv Ranjan Singh, visited NHPC’s Subansiri Lower Project.

During the visit, the Chairman and Members of the Committee visited various sites of the Project and took stock of the progress of ongoing construction activities wherein CMD-NHPC, A. K Singh briefed them about the progresses.

Singh assured the visiting Committee that the project’s major components shall be ready in due time so that 02 units (500 MW) of the project can be commissioned by August, 2022 and the project will be dedicated to the service of the nation, as per schedule.

Vipin Gupta, Executive Director, Subansiri Lower HE Project apprised about uninterrupted construction activities undertaken by the project in spite of difficulties faced by the authorities due to Covid-19 pandemic and its associated bottlenecks of natural calamity like flash floods, etc. Representatives of Major Works Contractors engaged in the Project also explained about the quantum of construction activities in individual fronts.

The Committee appreciated the hard work of the project team and the progress achieved so far. Work at the project site came to halt in 2010 following protests by anti-dam groups.

The initial cost of the project was Rs 6, 285.33 crore which has increased several times.

The local organisations feared that the downstream area would be affected after the construction of the dam.

Various organisations led by KMSS had staged vehement protests against the construction of the mega dam and had therein slowed down the works of the dam by blocking the roads.