(Feature Image: Flashflood ravaged Multhan market area after leakages in 25 Mw Lambadug HEP tunnel on May 10, 2024. Image Source: Screen shot of Amar Ujala video report)
The massive leakages in penstock of Lambadug Hydro Electric Project (HEP) on May 10 2024 morning have caused extensive damages in Multhan market area of Kangra district in Himachal Pradesh. The sudden leakages turning into a flash flood spell occurred around 08:00 am on May 10, 2024. As per reports the deluge containing mud and debris spread over 400 meter of market and invaded about 50 homes, 80 shops apart from damaging cash crops over 6 acres farming land.
The incident created panic situation for 150 families living in the area. Several residents had to run to save their lives. The project and administration officials remained unavailable to control the situation for hours. With no help in site, the local people had to divert the gushing currents towards Lambadug river to prevent further damages to their homes and properties.
While the administration assumed it could be a case of blast in project penstock, the project company suspects a fault in project head race tunnel (HRT) as a reason behind leakage. Meanwhile residents claimed the leakages started form the junction of HRT and penstock located about 400 meter uphill Multhan bazar. As per them water in small quantity was leaking from the spot for past many days but project officials took no action despite drawing their attention several times.
The deluge kept flooding the market for about four hours. The leakages were reduced after the inlet gates of the tunnel were closed and reservoir at Chherna was emptied by project officials in post noon hours. Six of the families affected by the mud floods have been shifted to local hotels. The disaster has caused losses worth lakhs of rupees for the residents.
As per the local people, the project tunnel had suffered leakages about a year ago but faced no punitive action. They also complained of difficulties in getting compensation from the government and demanded project company to be made accountable for their damages. One of the residents has reportedly lodged an FIR against the company for its negligence.
A damage report is being prepared by the administration and the company has agreed to provide compensation. Accepting leakages in the tunnel, a company official stated that they were finding out the reasons. The District Collector has ordered a technical inquiry into the incident. The Chief Minister has also directed authorities to inspect penstock of all the hydro power projects in the state.
Second Deluge Spell
The situation turned worse when the area was flooded with heavy boulders and muck around 08:45 pm same evening following a loud noise. The sudden deluge went on for about 10 minutes severely impacting already affected homes, shops in Multhan market apart from damaging several vehicles.
Amar Ujala media clips May 11-12, 2024 detailing the impact of Lambadug leakage incident on Multhan market residents.
The market road, area was again filled with debris, boulders and uprooted trees which villagers are unable to clear by themselves. Machines placed at a communication facility have also been damaged in second deluge. 11 policemen staying in nearby check post saved their lives in the nick of time.
In addition to tunnel leakages, a rainfall spell in the evening has reportedly added to the problems. The incident has made the project penstock area landslide prone creating collapse threat for 45 families. 30 of the families have been shifted in nearby hotels.
The market place now looks like a disaster torn area. There is still 12 inch water leaking from the project tunnel which as per the company would continue till the tunnel is fully emptied.
Following the second deluge, the affected residents protested against administration and project company blocking the main road. Some even demanded to close the project permanently in the wake of repeated disasters. The affected people refused to allow clearing of the road filled with debris without written agreement by the company regarding compensation. The damage losses have gone up to the tune of crores.
To pacify the agitated residents, the administration has announced Rs. 2.04 lakh as immediate relief for the 44 affected families. It also promised to complete damage assessment within 72 hours and make project company pay the compensation within a week.
The project has faced public opposition in past for causing environmental damages and not providing employment to local people. In March 2014, the work of the project was stopped by local people as the project developer had dump debris in water streams and farmlands. They even stated that the tunnel construction has created landslide threat for Termahar village.
About Lambadung HEP
Lambadug HEP is located near Multan-Barot village, PO Deot, in Chhota Bhangal area of Baijnath tehsil in Kangra district. The 25 Mw (12.5X2) project was jointly proposed by Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Limited (HPSEL) and Himachal Consortium Power Projects Limited (HCPPL) on Lambadug river a tributary of Uhl river in Beas basin.
The run of the river (RoR) scheme involved construction of a 3.50 meter wide and 40 meter long diversion weir of 21 cumec discharge capacity, a trench weir, a 4.15 km long head race tunnel (HRT) of 14 cumecs design discharge capacity, a pressure shaft, a 300 meter long penstock of 2 meter dia., a desilting chamber, a forebay, a 14 meter X 16 meter size power house, two tail race channels and an approach channel among others.
The diversion weir of the project is located at Chherna near Lohardi village about 5 km upstream from the power house built near the confluence of Lambadug and Uhl river in Barot. The project work started in 2003 by developer KU Hydro Power Private Limited a Hyderabad based company which later on subcontracted it to Megha Engineering & Infrastructure Limited (MEIL).
The MEIL website says: “The project is being executed in Himachal Pradesh for the client KU Hydro Power Pvt. Ltd. MEIL’s role in the project includes the drilling of a 3520 mm dia. head race tunnel for a length of 4625 mts., construction of a surface power house, and construction of other components for the 25 Mw power plant like switch yard, penstock, surge pool, open channel, diversion weir, desilting chamber and laying of 132 kV transmission lines.”
The project was proposed at an estimated cost of Rs. 149 crore. It became operational only on Feb. 24, 2024 but awaits formal inauguration.
Impact & Damages
Apart form the immense damages to Multhan residents, the tunnel leakage incidents have significantly damaged the Lambadug HEP penstock structure and the area around. The incident has also exposed the non-existence of any effective disaster management plan and response system of the project company.
Social media video clips showing scale of Lambadug HEP leakage.
As per the reports, the safety valve of the project reservoir got jammed for 15-20 minutes when it was being emptied in noon hours of May 10, 2024. A company official stated that they timely emptied the project reservoir but accepted they had not visited the leakage spot by that time. After closing the tunnel gates, the company claimed of plugging the leakage but same day the area suffered second leakage disaster.
The debris flood caused siltation in the reservoir of 110 Mw Shanan HEP located downstream on Uhl river at Barot and affected power generation from Shanan and 66 Mw Bassi HEP located further downstream for four hours causing financial losses to these project companies.
Meanwhile a video report of leakage spot revealed the precarious situation of project penstock and project structures around. The video shows that the penstock, it pillars and project structures have been erected over heap of tunnel debris.
The leakages producing massive volume water currents have hollowed out the hillside resembling a cloudburst situation. This could be the reason behind tunnel debris and muck in huge quantity flooding Multhan area.
Some of the project structures built at the junction of HRT and penstock are facing imminent collapse. Some of the penstock pillars have developed cracks. About 60 meter long portion of penstock is hanging in air.
Screen shots of Amar Ujala video report showing impact of leakage incident on project penstock structures.
This has become a potential disaster threat for human settlements downhill. People fear the leakages would continue and even increase during monsoon. The project company has no plan but to divert the leakages in other direction as long as a permanent solution is worked out.
Interestingly, the disaster management plan of the project has mentioned of only four emergency cases to deal with which are mainly about flood situation in the Lambadug river. This shows the project has no plan to deal with emergency situation arising due to disaster related to project operation including tunnel leakage, penstock blast etc. Moreover, the construction company which operationalized the project only in Feb. 2024 has been found involved in electoral bond scam.
Meanwhile, even two days after the incident the concerned government department and project company seems to be clueless on reasons behind the leakage disaster. They have neither shared any relevant information regarding the incident in public domain.
It alleged that the previous leakages were fixed in a hurried manner to complete the project. People have raised questions over the quality of construction work and claimed the reservoir gates were jammed and the company struggled to open them for a couple hours lacking expert manpower.
Images posted on X platform by Endangered Himalaya showing debris flood affected homes and vehicles in Multhan.
The incident requires a serious independent probe to thoroughly investigate the leakage episode, construction of the project, particularly building of penstock pipe and structures on tunnel debris. The government also needs to prepare an emergency plan to avoid the unfolding man-made disaster in the area.
It is clear that the Himachal Pradesh hydropower development departments, the dam safety department and the disaster management department have all be negligent, callous and possibly worse. There is urgent need to review the functioning of each of these institutes and also review the disaster management plan of all the hydropower projects of Himachal Pradesh.
The state has been witnessing HEPs induced disaster frequently but has track record of showing no serious intent to learn any lessons. Hope this incident would bring change in callous approach of government as well as of project developers.
Bhim Singh Rawat (bhim.sandrp@gmail.com)
Post Script:-13 May 2024 Company Negligence destroys Multhan A preliminary fact-finding report on the Lambadug hydroproject disaster by Himdhara Environment Research and Action Collective. file:///C:/Users/ABCD/Downloads/Lambadug%20hydropower%20disaster%20FF%20Report%2013th%20May_Final.pdf (May 2024) Water seemed to be leaking from near the pressure shaft and the penstock below the forebay. A landslide-like situation was observed where the muck and debris was continuing to move downhill. The crown of the landslide that seems to have occurred at night, is just beneath the forebay. The abutments of the penstock were cracked and the foundation also seemed susceptible to further subsidence and sliding. https://www.himdhara.org/2024/05/14/criminal-negligence-destroys-multhan-farms-and-market-in-barot-valley-kangra/ (14 May 2024)
Green groups seek audit of hydro projects In a letter to CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, coordinator, Himalaya Niti Abhiyan (HNA), Guman Singh stated that such incidents had occurred in over a dozen hydro projects in the last around one decade. “There is an urgent need to carry out a safety audit of all the hydro projects, commissioned and under-construction. On the basis of the safety audit, new measures can be taken to ensure the safety of the citizens,” read the letter. The HNA also demanded a time-bound inquiry into the Lambadug hydro project water leakage. “This incident should be treated as a criminal offence and all negligent officials should be charged. Also, the project proponent must pay compensation and bear the cost of providing relief to the victims,” the letter mentioned. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/shimla/flooding-of-kangra-village-green-groups-seek-audit-of-hydro-projects/articleshow/110065228.cms (13 May 2024)
Multhan incident: 2 days on, relief & rehab work yet to begin Senior officials of KU Hydropower Project company reached Multhan last night (May 12)from Hyderabad. The floodwater has damaged 50 houses, shops, hotels and restaurants in the Multhan market. Besides, the Multhan branch of Punjab National Bank, tehsil office, the state government’s fair price shop, a BSNL telephone exchange and the office of Horticulture Officer have suffered extensive damage.
-Many villagers claimed that the penstock had been leaking for one year while it was in the testing stage. Though the company had repaired the penstock, it burst due to the poor quality of construction, they said. Due to intermittent rain in the upper areas, water is now entering the market. No efforts have been made by the administration so far to remove the debris or divert the flow of water towards Uhl river. The incident has led to panic in the area, with villagers demanding action against the project management.
-The DSP said a FIR had already been registered and investigation into the incident was underway. The police were procuring documents from the company as well as from the state departments as part of the probe. He said no arrest had been made so far. “Technical glitches and other shortcomings will also be looked into during the investigation. Officials from the Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited will assist the probe,” the Baijnath SDM added. https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/himachal/multhan-incident-2-days-on-relief-rehab-work-yet-to-begin-620632 (13 Feb. 2024)
Akshay, a former Zila Parishad member) said, “The Leakage in the penstock (a pipe carrying water from the reservoir to the turbine for power generation) of the power project was observed on Friday (May 10) morning and it blasted around 9 pm leading to extensive damage to houses, shops and fields damaging standing crops as huge boulders, slush and muddy water covered the area.” Blaming the Directorate of Energy of the state government for not carrying proper security checks before commencement of power generation in the project, he also raised a finger at the apathy of the management of the power project for not taking adequate steps to avert the blast. https://himachalguardian.com/2024/05/action-demanded-against-the-power-company-after-extensive-damage-in-chhota-bengal/ (12 May 2024)
15 May 2024: Affected villagers write to CM, seek probe In a memorandum to the CM and Dam Safety Cell, 117 affected persons — mostly from Multhan village — who suffered damage to their moveable and immovable assets urged the Chief Minister to appoint a team of top engineers and bureaucrats to probe the incident. Besides, they have asked that the power company be told to pay them compensation as per the market rates before the onset of the monsoon.
-“The incident requires a serious independent probe to thoroughly investigate the leakage episode, construction of the project — particularly the penstock. The government also needs to prepare an emergency plan to avoid manmade disasters in the area. It is clear that the Himachal Pradesh Hydropower Development Department, Dam Safety Department and Disaster Management Department have all been negligent, callous and possibly worse,” the letter added.
-They said they were spending sleepless nights as the entire village was sinking because of large-scale seepage of water coming from the penstock and tunnel. “Though supply to the penstock was disconnected on May 10, water is still is coming out of the tunnel, aggravating the situation. The debris from hills is coming down to the village and cracks are visible on the slopes,” they added.
-Though the company operating the project had agreed to compensate the residents, no money has been transferred to the state exchequer to provide them relief. https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/himachal/hydro-project-deluge-affected-villagers-write-to-cm-seek-probe-621383 (15 May 2024)
-The project, constructed on the Lambadug river, is one among 40 projects in different stages of commissioning, construction, and planning on the Beas river and its tributaries. Nineteen of these projects are of 25 MW and above capacity with significant underground and surface excavation.
-The foundations and lower stories of the structures in the affected area are covered in 6 feet of muck, the team of Himdhara Environment Research and Action Collective found. They said water leakage continues despite the claim of project authorities that the reservoir had been completely drained. Water is leaking from near the pressure shaft and the penstock below the forebay. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/renewables/himachals-hydro-project-leaked-in-test-phase-too-experts-demand-moratorium-on-new-projects/articleshow/110113230.cms (14 May 2024)
References: –
6. https://himachalabhiabhi.com/pen-stock-leakage-of-labandag-project-flood-in-multhan-market/
7. https://www.divyahimachal.com/2024/05/there-was-an-outcry-from-multhan-to-barot/
8. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ND30z5vvtN4&t=466s
10. https://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20140310/himachal.htm#15
12. https://forestsclearance.nic.in/writereaddata/FormA/CTLetter/811101250121295FWDcatplan.pdf
14. http://www.web.meilgroup.in/project.php?p=294&a=power.php
SANDRP 