Dams brimming in HP, water being released without warning
THE DISTRICT ADMN HAS ORDERED A PROBE INTO THE MATTER, SAYS AVNINDER KUMAR, DEPUTY COMMISSIONER, KINNUAR
Sudden release of water from the 243-megawatt Kashang hydel power project in Kinnuar caused immense damage to apple orchards and pine forests in the tribal district on Friday.
It is alleged that the water was released without warning from the reservoir of the hydel power project.
“District administration has launched a probe into the matter,” says Avninder Kumar officiating deputy commissioner, Kinnaur.
Residents of the affected Pangi village in Kinnaur submitted a memorandum to the district authorities demanding immediate action against the erring officials.
“Water from the dam was released on Thursday evening through a tunnel in Lasing village without warning ,”said zila parishad member Vijay Negi.
“The gushing water damaged the pine trees and meadows. There was no warning from the dam authorities,” Negi said.
Water was first released by the Karcham Wangtoo hydro plantin Kinnaur later the Nathpa Jhakri hydroelectric station also released water from its dam in Nathpa .
Meanwhile, water from the dams has led to an increase in the water-level in Sutlej river which has disrupted power generation operations.
FOUR POWER PLANTS SHUT
The 1500 megawatt Nathpa Jhakri hydroelectric station, 412-megawatt Rampur project, the 120-megawatt Sanjay Vidyut Jal Pariyojana hydel project and 300-megawatt Baspa project were shut down on Friday due to increased silt levels in Satluj and its tributaries.
GOVT SEEKS EXPLANATION
The state disaster management authority has issued a notice to the management of Kashang hydel project seeking clarification over the release of water without warning.
“We have asked the National Hydro Power Corporation to explain the reason for releasing water from the dams at the 800megawatt Parbati river,” said an official at disaster management authority .
Four years back, state government had issued guidelines to all the power projects directing them to install alarm and warning system for safety of people during the sudden release of water. The directions were issued after 24 students were washed away in Beas river, after water was released without warning from the Larji dam in Kullu.
ROADS DAMAGED IN KINNAUR
National Highway-5 was closed after heavy rain in Kinnaur triggered landslides in Ribba village. Several lateral roads in Kinnaur were damaged due to rain. As many as eight people were stranded in the middle of Giri river in Sirmaur district due to high water-level.
The eight had got stuck in the Giri river at Singh Pura area of Sirmaur district on Thursday following heavy rainfall, superintendent of police (SP) Rohit Malpani said. Five people, including two children, were rescued by the police with the help of divers on Thursday night. The three others, along with their cattle, buffaloes, calves and around 15 to 20 goats, were rescued with the help of a National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team on Friday morning, the SP said.
Local divers played an important part in the rescue operation, he added.