The North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO) on Sunday has issued an official statement regarding the flash flood issue in Assam which knocks the door at this time every year.
The NEEPCO in its press release clarified the various apprehensions in reference to the excess water released from the Ranganadi Hydroelectric Plant in Arunachal Pradesh.
The release said that due to rainfall in the upper reaches of the Ranganadi Plant, the reservoir absorbs the water into certain inflow. However, whenever there is very heavy rainfall in the upper reaches, the excess water beyond the capacity of the storage capacity is passed through the gates.
Further, through their press release, NEEPCO clarified that the water coming through the gate is because of heavy rainfall which cannot be retained and there is no contribution of the Ranganadi plant in this.
Lately people of Assam were in a panic situation due to the sudden release of excess water by the Ranganadi Hydroelectric Plant and thought this was not a good decision taken from the authorities of the plant.
The press release further reads that the Plant reduces flood quantum of the river by diverting 160 cumecs of water to adjacent Pare basin. Even in the absence of the Ranganadi plant, the same amount of water if not more would have flown in the river and reach the downstream plains of Assam.
"There is an incorrect perception that the flood in Lakhimpur is because of release of water from Ranganadi dam", clarifies NEEPCO. As the river has many tributaries; many of them are in the downstream of the dam. So all the water flows through the river and reaches Assam, it adds.
On 5th June, 2021, due to Flash Flood in the upstream reaches of Ranganadi, in a span of one hour, the water inflow at Ranganadi increased from 91 cumecs at 13.00 Hrs to 420 cumecs at 14.00 Hrs.
"After utilizing the full handling capacity of the reservoir, the remaining water was released into the river as per the "Standard Operating Procedure" (SOP) and observing full safety protocols and downstream warnings. The district administration was alerted instantly. Flood warning and alert system devised through the North East Space Application Station (NESAC), ISRO, Government of India is in use at the plant.", NEEPCO stated in their press release.
