Ranganadi hydel project Govt panel to study downstream impact

GUWAHATI, June 8 – In view of increasing complaints from different quarters about dam-induced flood in the Ranganadi and Dikrong rivers, the State Government has constituted a high-level committee headed by the chairman of the Pollution Control Board, Assam and former Commissioner of Water Resources department, Arun Dutta, to look into the downstream impacts of the Ranganadi hydro-electric project run by the NEEPCO. The committee will submit its findings to the State Government soon after a thorough investigation.

An official release said that the Ranganadi project apart, the committee would also study the possible adverse impacts by different hydel projects in the downstream areas.

The committee was constituted at the initiative of Power Minister Pradyut Bordoloi after several recent floods in the Ranganadi and Dikrong were attributed to the release of excess water by the NEEPCO-run hydel projects although the corporation always sought to refute the charges.

The State Government, besides taking up the matter with the Centre, has also been urging the NEEPCO authorities to ensure a mechanism to prevent such floods.

“The State Government constituted the committee following a decision taken by Power Minister Pradyut Bordoloi to that effect so that the team of expert makes an in-depth on-the-spot investigation and gets to the roots of the problem. Once the committee submits its report, the State Government will act upon the recommendations,” the release said.

The two other members of the committee are R Baruah, general manager (Hydrology), Assam Power Generation Company, and Atul Baruah, superintending engineer (Civil Design) of Assam State Electricity Board (ASEB).