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Friday, March 29, 2024

Large portion of Kopili hydel project damaged due to rising water levels of river: NEEPCO 

Earlier on March 26, while Anupam Saikia, deputy manager (civil) and Demiraj Johari, contract labourer had died on the spot, Jayanta Hazarika, manager (civil), succumbed to his injuries at the primary health centre of the project.

GUWAHATI:

The rising water level in the Kopili River has damaged a large portion of Kopili Hydroelectric Project run by North Eastern Electrical Power Corporation (NEEPCO) at Umrangso in Assam’s Dima Hasao, the power company said on March 27.

“A temporary barrier constructed at Intake Weir in Khandong 132/33 KV Switch Yard of Khandong Hydropower Station at Kopili Hydro Electric Project was breached by a sudden rise in water level in the Kopili reservoir at around 10:45 am on March 26,” said Loreta Ann Kharmawphlang, deputy general manager (corporate affairs), NEEPCO, New Delhi, said.

The water gushed into the Head Race Tunnel and thereafter entered both the powerhouses connected to Khandong system. She informed that the powerhouses in Intake and HRT were shut since January 11 for repair works.

“The workmen and the engineers engaged in the repairing works were quickly evacuated after water gushed into the powerhouses and the process of lowering of Intake Gate was started immediately, at around 11 am on Saturday,” she said.

Reservoir water, however, kept on rising rapidly with the attainment of the level of EL. 709.0 m at around 2 pm. This raising was due to unprecedented and untimely rainfall in the catchment area, Kharmawphlang said.

“A team of NEEPCO engineer and staff was deputed to oversee the process of lowering of the surge shaft gate. While going to the surge shaft area, a big tree got uprooted and fell on the members of the team at around 1:40 pm in the vicinity of the surge shaft. Two engineers and one workman were crushed to death in the accident,” she said.

Earlier on March 26, while Anupam Saikia, deputy manager (civil) and Demiraj Johari, contract labourer died on the spot, Jayanta Hazarika, manager (civil), succumbed to his injuries at around 3:15 pm at the primary health centre of the project.

“A team of senior officers has already reached the project sites to oversee emergency actions. The work of delinking the HRT and power house from the reservoir by lowering the Intake Gates has already been completed,” Kharmawphlang said.

“While NEEPCO deeply mourns the loss of the precious lives, we are fully committed to extend relief measures as per the company’s policy to the deceased’s kin,” she added.

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