Pagladiya dam project cost updated

GUWAHATI, August 17: The total cost of the proposed Pagladiya dam project of the Brahmaputra Board has been updated to Rs 522 crore as per the price levels of 1998. The project, which envisages flood moderation and irrigation benefits with incidental power generation was earlier approved from techno-economic angle of the technical advisory committee of the Union ministry of water resources at an estimated cost of Rs 472 crore (1998 price level). The project, involving the construction of an earlier dam of about 26 metre high, had already been cleared from environmental angle by the Union ministry of environment and forests in September 1996. Clearance from the ministry of social justice and empowerment had also been received and the investment clearance was under consideration of the concerned ministry. The project, when completed, will provide flood control measures to about 40,000 hectares, including irrigation facilities to more than 54,000 hectares of agricultural land every year.