Dimapur, Aug. 4 (EMN): The North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Ltd (Neepco) today clarified that the recent flood in the Golaghat District is due to unprecedented rainfall in the entire catchment of Dhansiri river of which the Doyang catchment is only a part of it.
A press release issued by the Sr. Manager (CC), L.A. Kharmawphlang, gave a technical explanation about the working system of the Doyang HE Plant in Wokha district developed by NEEPCO on Doyang.
“The Project comprises of 92 m high rock-fill Dam having live storage capacity of 216.5 MCum at EL 324.0 M and intercepting a catchment area of 2606 sq.km,” the release stated while adding that the entire quantum of power from the plant has been allocated to all seven states of NE Region where Assam has a share allocation of 43.8 %.
The release informed that, for better coordination for early warning and flood forecast and to discuss the modalities of flood preparedness, a meeting was convened on May 17 2018 by DDMA, Golaghat with Neepco.
“The meeting focused mainly upon the early and effective warning regarding rise of water level and release of excess water from the Project. Due to Incessant rainfall in the upper catchment area, the reservoir water level started increasing abruptly since 25.07.2018,” the release stated.
Through the press release, Neepco made it understood that the inflow to the “Doyang reservoir was more than 600 Cum/Sec since 27.07.2018 and it went more than 1150 Cm/Sec on 31.07.2018 which is much higher than the normal range of inflow” which necessitated the release of excess water by opening the gates.
“NEEPCO had to open the radial gates at 5:30 hrs of 27.07.2018 to release the excess water in controlled manner,” the release stated while adding that the excess water beyond the “capacity of the reservoir flows to the downstream area which cannot be absorbed by the reservoir”.
“It is clear that the Doyang Dam cannot absorb the water beyond its capacity at any point of time and rather, Doyang Dam did contribute to flood moderation to its present water holding capacity upto EL 324.0 M,” the release stated.
In this regard, the Neepco stated that the information in regard to “the increase of water of water level has been shared with the Golaghat District Disaster Management Authority on regular basis as decided in the meeting held on 17.05.2018 at conference hall of DC office, Golaghat”.
“The recent flood in the Golaghat District is due to unprecedented rainfall in the entire catchment of Dhansiri river of which the Doyang catchment is only a part”, stated the release while adding that ‘due to the existence of Doyang storage reservior, ‘the flood peak is getting moderated to the extent the capacity of the reservoir permits’.
It further stated that Doyang Project authority is maintaining a close contact with the concerned District administration and information regarding release of excess water through the spillway gate is being shared well in advance enabling actual flood forecasting.
