GUWAHATI, June 25 ? The Union Water Resource Ministry has been constantly maintaining, in view of the Union Power Ministry?s proposal to develop major hydel power projects in the NE region, that adequate flood cushioning provisions should be there in the reservoirs built for the purpose. Disclosing this, sources in the Brahmaputra Board here said that though the Board had prepared, or been preparing, the project reports for the major tributaries of the Brahmaputra like Kameng, Subansiri, Dihang, Dibang, Lohit, Noadihing and Pagladia, except for the last one, all the other projects have been sought to be developed by the Union Power Ministry for power generation.
This is because of the fact that the Brahmaputra Board was not envisioned as a power generating agency. Its main concern is water resources development in both the Brahmaputra and the Barak valleys, the sources said. The Board has, however, undertaken the responsibility to implement the Rs 54-crore Pagladia project. The National Water Policy, 2002 also provides for adequate flood cushioning in the storage reservoirs built for the purpose of the hydel power projects, even at the cost of sacrificing some irrigation and power benefits, the sources said.
Sufficient flood cushioning in storage reservoirs is a major consideration of the Brahmaputra Board also, said the sources. According to the sources, the Board has already prepared master plans for 31 tributaries, besides the Brahmaputra and the Barak, and a special master plan for Majuli island. Four more master plans are under preparation and 15 tributaries, viz, Barnadi, Belsiri, Beki, Manas, Aie, Buroi, Tipkai, Dhansiri (North), Bargang, Sankosh, Brahmajan, Dudhnoi, Krishnai, Depota and Tangani are under survey and investigation for the purpose of preparation of master plans. It has also completed detailed project reports (DPR) of the 20,000 megawatt (MW) Dihang (Siang) Dam Project, 4,800 MW Subansiri Dam Project, 3 MW Pagladiya Dam Project, 1,500 MW Tipaimukh Dam Project and the 75 MW Bairabi Dam Project. The first two projects have been handed over to the National Hydel Power Corporation (NHPC) for implementation, the fourth one to the North East Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO) and the fifth one to the Mizoram Government for implementation. The Board has been entrusted with the implementation of the Pagladiya Dam Project.
The Board has proposed to complete nine DPRs during the Tenth Plan and seven DPRs during the Eleventh Plan, the sources said. The Board has at present 55 graduate engineers serving with it, with experience in preparing master plans and DPRs for 20 years in the NE region?s water resources sector. Moreover, the Board has 130 junior engineers with experience in the NE water resource sector for an equal period of time, the sources said.
Meanwhile, in consonance with the announcement made by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on January 21, 2000 at Shillong that the Brahmaputra Board was to be revitalised for socio-economic development of the NE region, the Prime Minister?s Office (PMO) has been reviewing quarterly the Brahmaputra Board-related activities, the sources said. The Board has by now identified 34 drainage development schemes in the NE region and has also submitted proposals for implementation of six of these schemes, viz, Jengrai, East of Barpeta, Jakaichuk, Joysagar, Barbhag and Kailasahar (in Tripura). The implementation of these six schemes will require an estimated investment of Rs 20 crore, the sources said.