Assam's Subansiri dam to be functional by next year

• Image Credit: Internet

• Nov 11, 2021 | moderator

Guwahati: The National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) announced that the Subansiri lower dam will be functional by August 2022. 

The Lower Subansiri Hydroelectric Power is the other name of the project. The project is ongoing along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border. 

It is the most comprehensive hydro power project under construction in the country. It will provide a yearly power generation potential of 7421.59 million units (MU).

Several organizations have protested against the construction of this mega-dam project along the interstate-border region. All Assam Student's Union also staged a protest against the construction of the dam. However, the officials of the NHPC said that all eight units of the dam would be functional by 2022. 

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The CMD of NHPC, AK Singh, assured the visiting Parliamentary Standing Committee on Energy (2021-23) that the project major components will be ready in due course so that two units (500 MW) of the project get commissioned by August 2022, and the dam is dedicated to the nation as per schedule.

The parliamentary committee, chaired by Rajiv Ranjan, visited the project on Tuesday. Later NHPC said that the committee appreciated the work of the project team and the progress achieved so far.

The project triggered a political storm and has been an issue for every election. The opposition parties raised concerns over the construction of the dam. They cited that this might cause a threat for the people and property of the downstream regions of Assam. 

Work on the project resumed on October 15, 2019, following recommendations from the National Green Tribunal. This project is the first cascaded dam on the Subansiri.