I didn't see the word "dredging" anywhere in the news. Did I miss it?
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Guwahati, Wednesday, May 4, 2005
Massive erosion by the Brahmaputra taking place at Phulbari Village in South sootea, Sonitpur district, on Tuesday. � UB Photos
Task Force for storage projects
By Ajit Patowary
GUWAHATI, May 3 � The Task Force for Flood Management and Erosion Control recommended storage projects on the Brahmaputra, the Barak and their tributaries for a permanent solution to the State�s floods and erosion problems. It also laid emphasis on expeditious implementation of the non-structural measures for the purpose. These include� wetland revival and maintenance; watershed management; flood plain zoning; extension, modernization of flood forecasting and warning system; setting up a core group of highly trained officers for disaster mitigation etc.
It however, needs mention that the Task Force also recommended implementation of various immediate measures, short-term measures, besides the long-term measures, which mainly include the storage reservoirs.
Immediate measures are the measures to be completed before the onset of 2005 monsoon. The measures proposed to be started and completed within the Tenth Five Year Plan are categorized as the short-term measures-I. Those measures, which are to be started within the Tenth Five Year Plan and to be completed in the Eleventh Five Year Plan, are categorized as short-term-II measures.
The measures proposed to be taken up and completed within the Eleventh Five Year Plan are categorized as the long-term ones. Storage reservoirs fall in this category, but their completion depends on the cooperation of the neighbouring countries such as Nepal, Bhutan and China. Their estimated cost also could be worked out, said the Task Force. Its recommended reservoirs include � Siang Upper, Middle and Lower on the Siang (Brahmaputra); Subansir! i Upper, Middle and Lower; Dibang Dam;
Lohit Dam and on the Barak� the Tipdimukh Dam.
The Siang projects are proposed in Arunachal Pradesh, with an estimated gross capacity of about 20,000 million cubic metre (MCM). The three Siang projects came up as alternative to a single dam project. On the other hand, the Subansiri projects, also in the same state area, have an estimated gross capacity of about 4,800 MCM. The three projects on the Subansiri also were the alternatives to a single dam project.
The Dibang Dam Project proposed in Arunachal Pradesh, has an estimated gross reservoir capacity of about 3,600 MCM. The Lohit Dam Project has the estimated gross reservoir capacity of about 5,100 MCM. It is also proposed to be located in Arunachal Pradesh.
The Task Force has given a list of the reservoirs proposed or implemented on the Brahmaputra tributaries by the country�s agencies and also by the neighbouring countries. These include the Brahmaputra Board�s u! nder preparation projects�Noadihing (about 57 MCM), Jiadhal (about 1,344 MCM), Killing (about 56 MCM), Kulsi (about 795MCM) and its under execution project Pagladiya (about313 MCM).
The Task Force report also mentioned NEEPCO�s under preparation projects�Dikrong, Kameng (about 6,500 MCM) and Dhansiri South (about 1,500 MCM) and the Kopilli (about 1,620 MCM) implemented by the Central power agency and the Government of Assam.
Besides, it has mentioned in its said list the Central Water Commission�s (CWC) proposed Dikhou (about 1,000 MCM) project and the Government of Assam�s proposed Dhansiri North project. The tentative about 300 MCM Janji project also features in the list.
Further, the Bhutan Government�s proposed projects on the Manas (about 920 MCM) and on the Aie have also been mentioned by the Task Force, among others. It has suggested that the issues of submergence and environment related to the Siang Upper/Intermediate Project should be taken up at th! e highest level to resolve the deadlock. It needs mention that the Arunachal Pradesh Government has been objecting to the execution of the project for the submergence threat from it to Yingkiong town. Besides, it also poses a similar threat to a part of the Dihang-Dibang Biosphere and Tuting Monastery.
Meanwhile, construction of the Lower Subansiri Power Project entrusted to the National Hydroelectric Corporation (NHPC) has started and contracts for all the major works of the project have been awarded. But, an impasse is going on over the implementation of the Subansiri Upper and Middle Projects because of the Supreme Court directive concerning environmental issues, said the Task Force.
On the Tipaimukh Multipurpose Project, it said that it was proposed on the Barak River 500 metres downstream of its confluence with the Tuivai River on the Manipur-Mizoram border. It has an installed capacity of 1,500 MW. The Brahmaputra Board had prepared the Detailed Project Report (DP! R) in 1995 with a flood cushion of 675 MCM to moderate flood in Barak Valley. The scheme was handed over to the NEEPCO for execution in 1999.
The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) accorded techno-economic clearance to the project on July 2,2003 at a cost of Rs 5,163.96 crore, which includes Rs 288.76 crore for flood control, Rs 280.59 crore for security and Rs 105.00 crore for diversion of the National Highway. However, loading the project with such indirect costs is sure to affect tariff on the power it generates. The NEEPCO is hence of the opinion that the indirect cost should be borne by the state governments/ ministries concerned so that power tariff could be brought down to the commercially viable level.
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