[Assam] Mega dams in N E (LETTERS, The Assam Tribune, 07.12.2009)

[Buljit Buragohain]

Mega dams in N E

Sir,
– ‘Mega dams in NE region are possible’. This was the remark made by
Prof D K Paul  leading earthquake engineer of the country while
addressing a conference in Guwahati  (AT, November 29).


This remark  would perhaps carry a great significance for the
people of this region  as the region is very much apprehensive about
the  ill effects that mega dams  would create on the life and property
of the people by submerging vast areas due to sudden release of excess
water on its downstream side.  The way the report is projected, there
are chances that people might get confused. Prof Paul has actually made
this remark only from the earthquake point of view and it is about the
structural safety of the dams in the event of great earthquakes as
there are  technologies which are available these days  to counter
such earthquake threats. But if we look through real perspective,  mega
dams are part of the mega hydro electric projects which are being built
in N E region, specially in Arunachal Pradesh that are  threatening the
life and properties of the people of Assam and adjoining areas by  the
excess water that are being released from the projects in the event of
heavy accumulation of water in the reservoir due to excessive rainfall 
which occurs from time to time. As such when we talk about the safety
of the mega hydroelectric projects and its feasibility, among many
things we should consider the earthquake as well as hydrological 
aspects carefully. –Yours etc., JAYANTA BARMAN, Rehabari, Guwahati. 



(LETTERS, The Assam Tribune, 07.12.2009)



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