Dibrugarh: Assam minister Ranoj Pegu on Monday inspected NHPC’s Lower Subansiri project and sought to allay dam-safety fears, as upper Assam continued to grapple with flooding.The 2,000 MW Lower Subansiri Hydroelectric Project at Gerukamukh lies on the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border. Pegu inspected the 116-metre-high dam, its reservoir and the control room housing the Early Warning System.Pegu said the reservoir was at 92 metres, with a 15-metre flood cushion maintained for flood moderation. Around 3,800 cumecs of water was being discharged downstream.Following heavy rain, inflow peaked at about 13,800 cumecs on July 13. Of this, around 12,500 cumecs was released in a controlled manner, while the rest was retained to moderate flooding. Pegu said reservoir levels were being continuously monitored and operations followed National Dam Safety Authority guidelines.After inspecting the facility and meeting project engineers, Pegu expressed confidence in the dam’s safety. “After personally inspecting the project and interacting with the engineers, I am convinced that the Subansiri Lower Dam is completely safe and the entire water discharge process is being monitored with utmost caution and remains fully under control,” he said.He reassured residents of flood-prone Dhemaji, Lakhimpur and Majuli that the dam could temporarily store excess water during torrential rain or sudden increases in river levels and release it in a controlled manner.Pegu said downstream safety remained the govt’s top priority and agencies were coordinating to operate the dam responsibly.The project, India’s largest hydroelectric venture under construction, has faced concerns from downstream communities over possible flooding and erosion.The visit came amid flooding in upper Assam following days of heavy rain. NHPC officials briefed Pegu on real-time monitoring and flood-management protocols.
