Despite the order issued by National Green Tribunal, which placed a halt on any construction or concretization work at Lower Subansiri Hydroelectric Project (LSHP) until all safety issues were addressed, significant concretization advancements have been made at the site.
Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project (SLHEP)
SLHEP is a gravity dam currently under construction situated on the Subansiri river, marking the border between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. The Subansiri River, also called “Gold River”, originates from the Tibet Plateau and enters India through Miri hills in Arunachal Pradesh. It marks its significance as the largest tributary of Brahmaputra River.
The progression of SLHEP has been kept in abeyance due to domestic protests regarding several dam safety concerns and administrative complications that arose during the implementation of the project. One major issue is how the SLHEP breaches the 1980 Brahmaputra Board Act by handing over the work of the Water Resources Department of Subansiri Basin from the Brahmaputra Board to the public and private sectors. Furthermore, an elevated seismic threat level to the dam was assessed by the Indian Institute of Technology at Roorkee.
Understanding Gravity Dams
A gravity dam is typically constructed from concrete or cement instead of mud and masonry stones used in embankments. Its design relies mostly on the weight of the material to counteract the horizontal water pressure pushing against it.
Controversial Dams in India
India has a collection of controversial dams like the Sardar Sarovar Dam, a gravity dam on the Narmada river located near Navagam, Gujarat. It’s the world’s second-largest concrete gravity dam by volume and provides water and electricity to Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan. However, it’s alleged to have displaced around 2.5 lakh villagers.
Another example is the MullaPeriyar Dam, a gravity dam on the Periyar River situated in Kerala’s Idukki district but is managed by the Tamil Nadu government. There’s an ongoing dispute between the Kerala and Tamilnadu governments over the dam’s height.
Additionally, the Polavaram project, a multi-purpose national project on the Godavari River residing in Andhra Pradesh, is under construction. This project is expected to submerge villages in Chhattisgarh and Odisha.
Table: Facts at a Glance
| Dam Name | Location | Controversy |
|---|---|---|
| Sardar Sarovar Dam | Gujarat | Displacement of locals |
| MullaPeriyar Dam | Kerala | Dispute over height |
| Polavaram project | Andhra Pradesh | Submergence of villages |
Kishanganga Hydroelectric Plant
Finally, the Kishanganga Hydroelectric Plant, a run-of-the-river hydroelectric scheme designed to divert water from the Kishanganga River to a power plant within the Jhelum River basin, is based in Jammu and Kashmir. The World Bank’s court of arbitration failed to resolve the dispute between India and Pakistan over the Indus water treaty issue.
