A landslide occurred at an under-construction dam in Arunachal Pradesh, affecting a 2,000-megawatt hydroelectric project and blocking the diversion tunnel in the Subansiri River, leading to a significant decrease in downstream water flow.
The Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project had only one operational diversion tunnel, as the other four had been blocked by previous landslides, as reported by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC). These tunnels are essential for redirecting river water during construction.
This incident occurred just a week after another disaster in the Northeast, where a dam breach in Sikkim, triggered by a glacial lake outburst, resulted in significant flash floods and casualties, highlighting the increase of Landslides in that area.
The landslide has raised concerns among authorities in Assam's Lakhimpur district, which is downstream of the Arunachal Pradesh dam.
In response, the government has issued an advisory urging people to refrain from activities such as fishing, swimming, bathing, and boating. Additionally, residents have been advised to keep their livestock away from the river.
The NHPC has stated that the river is expected to return to its normal flow by the evening. Currently, the river flow of 997 cubic meters per second is being stored in the reservoir, with the water level reaching 139 meters by 1 pm. It is anticipated that the water level will reach 145 meters by the evening, allowing the river to resume its regular flow through the spillway.
Over the Past years three years, there have been four instances of landslides at the project site. The construction of the project, which commenced in 2005, faced interruptions in 2011 and 2019 due to protests, causing the estimated project cost to soar from Rs. 6,285 crores to Rs. 20,000 crores. The dam's construction faced opposition from activists and local residents who were concerned about downstream impacts.
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