Guwahati, Nov 11: The National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) has been working day and night to complete the major components of Subansiri Lower Project which will be ready in due time so that two units (500 MW) of the project will be commissioned by August, 2022.

Due to protest, the work of the dam got delayed but in the lockdown period the work got underway and maximum construction was done during the period.

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

During the visit, 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 about the progress in construction activities of the Project.

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

Vipin Gupta, Executive Director, Subansiri Lower HE Project, apprised about uninterrupted construction activities undertaken by project inspite of difficulties faced by project due to Covid-19 pandemic and its associated bottlenecks, natural calamity like flash floods, etc. Representatives of Major Works Contractors engaged in the Project also explained about the quantum of construction activities on 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 organisation feared that the downstream area would be affected after the construction of the dam.

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