The Government does not propose to review all the
proposals of big dams in the country. However, as desired by Government
of Assam (GoA), NHPC constituted an Expert Group consisting of experts
from IIT, Guwahati, Gauhati University and Dibrugarh University to study
the downstream impact of Lower Subansiri HEP (2000 MW). The Expert
Group has submitted its final report on 3.3.2011. Meanwhile, on the
concerns expressed by GoA regarding structural safety of the dam,
Planning Commission has appointed a two Member Technical Experts
Committee to study the technical reports of the Expert Group.
Central Water Commission has informed that the seismic data/past
history of earthquakes in the country is maintained by Indian
Meteorological Department which includes the earthquake of 1950 referred
herein. All such information has been taken into account for carrying
out the seismic studies during submission of proposal of Lower Subansiri
Hydro-electric Project. NHPC has informed that the occurrence of 1950
earthquake was considered during the site specific earthquake design
parameters study for this Project by Department of Earthquake
Engineering, IIT Roorkee.
The concerns of local people on the safety of the dam has been referred
to the Two Member Technical Experts Committee as mentioned in the
foregoing replies. In addition, on the concerns of downstream impact, a
Joint Steering Committee has been constituted by NHPC on 19.4.2011 to
suggest feasible and practicable remedial measures in the downstream
areas with reference to Expert Group’s recommendations on downstream
impact of Subansiri Lower Dam (Part-II) alongwith issues related to
flood, bank erosion and sediment control. Also, as recommended by
Inter-Ministerial Group headed by Secretary (Water Resources), a
Cumulative Environment Impact Assessment Study of Lohit Sub-basin has
recently been completed by WAPCOS and studies for Subansiri and Siang
sub-basins have been commissioned by Central Water Commission.
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