Flash floods put brakes on hydel power project

While the people of Ladakh will take months to recover from the flash floods that have damaged thousands of homes

While the people of Ladakh will take months to recover from the flash floods that have damaged thousands of homes,there is more bad news as the model hydroelectric project that would have been the first regular source of power in the region is expected to get delayed by over a year in the aftermath.

The 45 MW Nimoo-Bazgo project was supposed to have been activated in October this year. But with all road links cut off and the Indus river in spate,officers working on the river project say that it will not be ready before next year. This is one of the highest hydel projects in the world,located at over 10,000 feet.

We just about managed to save machinery and other equipment at the site. Water levels have gone up way beyond normal levels and work cannot continue. I dont think we can now make it operational before October next year, said S Mazumdar,project director of the Hindustan Construction Company HCC.

Currently,the Ladakh region and Leh town depend on mini hydel projects and diesel generators for power. There is no regular source of energy and the erratic supply gets worse in winter. The Nimoo-Bazgo project would have been the first major power source for the region and was crucial to plans of developing the area. Most of Leh town and adjoining areas rely heavily on diesel generators,but supply is limited due to fuel constraints.

Mazumdar,who walked for five hours to reach Leh town on Monday as the road has been cut off at several points to offer HCCs help to the civil administration,said that while 70 per cent of the work on the project is over,the massive increase in water levels has forced his team to stop work.

Now that the road links have been cut,we dont expect regular supplies and construction material to reach the project on schedule, he said.

While there were no mudslides near the project,which is located close to the historic Alchi monastery,heavy rains have lashed the area for the past several days. We have 1,200 people working on the project and the priority is to save our equipment that is in the danger of getting washed away, said Mazumdar.

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The Rs 611 crore project,located 60 km from Leh,was being seen as a lifeline for the region. The first phase would have brought in 15 MW of power to provide uninterrupted electricity to Leh town. It is also a construction challenge,with the site of the project located at over 10,000 feet,one of the highest being constructed in the world.