Category: Hydro Disaster

NTPC’s Tapovan-Vishnugad HPP after Chamoli Disaster
Hydro Disaster

NTPC’s Tapovan-Vishnugad HPP after Chamoli Disaster

SANDRP2 Comments

(Feature image showing July 24 landslide blocking mouth of NTPC’s main tunnel. Mahadeep Panwar/Atul Sati via social media.)

The 520 MW hydro power project (HPP) Tapovan-Vishnugad having proved a recipe for disaster during Chamoli deluge on February 07, 2021, continues to jeopardize the local environment and play havoc with the lives and livelihoods of people in Joshimath area.

National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), the developer of the project was seen working round the clock, close to para glacial zone without installing any Early Warning System (EWS) and providing adequate safety equipment to workers before stuck down by the catastrophic event resulting in death of over 200 innocent workers there.

It has been 15 years, since the project was started in November 2006, at an estimated cost of Rs. 2978.48 crore with 2012-2013 as planned commissioning year, however the project is still far from completion.

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Deaths and disaster at NHPC’s Parbati-II Hydro project
Hydro Disaster

Deaths and disaster at NHPC’s Parbati-II Hydro project

SANDRP4 Comments

In a tragic incident, 4 labourers were killed and one was injured after part of an under construction tunnel of NHPC’s Parbati-2 hydropower project collapsed on Friday evening around 4.30 pm, May 21, 2021[i]. This happened at Pancha Nalla in the Garsa (Bhuntar) Valley of Himachal Pradesh’s Kullu district[ii]. The accident happened when the labourers were doing drilling work in the 600m-long diversion tunnel (a sub tunnel of the main 31.52 km long tunnel[iii]). The whole area, where drilling was underway, collapsed. Four bodies were found buried under the debris. This description possibly shows signs of neglect of NHPC and the contractors.[iv]

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Rishiganga HEP: A foretold disaster for River, People and Chipko legacy
Hydro Disaster

Rishiganga HEP: A foretold disaster for River, People and Chipko legacy

SANDRP5 Comments

The February 7 2021 Chamoli deluge has completely destroyed Rishiganga Hydro Electric Project (HEP). The 13.2 MW run of the river project has also become graveyard for over 50 innocent workers and villagers. The damages to homes, bridges, forest and river eco-system is additional which cannot be restored easily.

In fact, the disaster is among the threats against which experts and locals had been warning the authorities time and again. Sadly, the past history of struggle and destruction shows that not only the state government but the judiciary also failed miserably to address the pleas of locals and assess the disaster risks in a timely manner.

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Tapovan Vishnugad HPP: delays, damages and destructions
Hydro Disaster

Tapovan Vishnugad HPP: delays, damages and destructions

SANDRP1 Comment

(Feature image of rescue operations at Tapovan Vishnugad barrage following Feb. 7, 2021 deluge in Dhauliganga river, Chamoli. PTI Photo/Arun Sharma)

The tragic Chamoli flash flood episode has become latest and one of most vivid examples of how hydro power projects (HPP) are a recipe for disaster in geologically delicate and climatically sensitive regions of Himalaya.

Even 10 days after the deluge the Alaknanda Basin Rivers are following with muddier water. Death toll is mounting. The immense damages to infrastructure including roads, bridges, homes and hydro projects is still to be fully assessed.

The catastrophic event has offered authorities many valuable lessons: not to be blind to the preventable disasters the hydro projects are inviting frequently.

Initial findings have established that the reason behind the flash flood was detachment of snow and rocks. The fact that the hydro projects and other man made mistakes have led to most human casualties and financial losses is undisputable.

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चमोली आपदा: माँ के फोन कॉल्स से बच गई 25 जिंदगियां
Hydro Disaster

चमोली आपदा: माँ के फोन कॉल्स से बच गई 25 जिंदगियां

SANDRP1 Comment

फरवरी 7 को चमोली में आई विकराल बाढ़ अपने पीछे भीषण तबाही के निशान के साथ कुछ अहम सबक भी छोड़ गई है जो भविष्य में आपदा प्रबंधन को बेहतर बनाने में बहुत कारगार साबित हो सकते हैं।

ऐसा ही एक असंभव किस्सा स्थानीय महिला मंगसीरी देवी का है जिनका 27 साल का लड़का विपुल कैरेनी एनटीपीसी की तपोवन विष्णुगाड जल विद्युत परियोजना में कार्यरत है।

घटना के दिन विपुल की माँ मंगसीरी और पत्नी अनीता ने ऊचाई पर स्थित अपने गांव ढ़ाक से धौलीगंगा नदी में आई जलप्रलय को देखा। उसके बाद उसने अपने बेटे को कई बार फोन किया जिसके कारण उनके बेटे समेत 25 अन्य लोगों का जीवन बच गया।

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Srisailam Hydro Project Disaster of Aug 2020
Dam Disaster · Hydro Disaster · Telangana

Srisailam Hydro Project Disaster of Aug 2020

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Nine employees of Telangana State Power Generation Corporation (TSGenco) are trapped inside the under-tunnel 900 (6 X 150) MW Srisailam Left Bank Power Station (SLBP) when fire broke out in the electric panel at around 10.30 pm on Thursday night (Aug 20 2020). As we write this, six bodies have been recovered, search is on for the remaining three persons.

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UHL hydro project disaster needs independent probe
Himachal Pradesh · Hydro Disaster

UHL hydro project disaster needs independent probe

SANDRP1 Comment

On May 16, 2020[i], the penstocks of the 100 MW Uhl III project at Lad Bhadol in Mandi in Himchal Pradesh, under testing, burst, leading to flooding of downstream power house. 30 people working at the project were trapped but all have been rescued to safety. The power house is about 150 m from the burst point in Chulla village. Continue reading “UHL hydro project disaster needs independent probe” →