Unallocated power asked to be diverted to Assam

NHPC has asked India's power ministry to give 15% or 300 MW of unallocated power at the Subansiri Lower hydro-electric project to Assam.

The hydro major believes this will assuage the protesting groups as well as the Government of Assam and help expedite the development of the project.

At present the allocation of power to Assam is only 233 MW from Subansiri. NHPC believes that if the share of power to Assam is enhanced, its stake in project completion will increase and also help solicit more cooperation during the construction phase.

The 2,000 MW Subansiri Lower hydro-electric project has 8 units of 250 MW each and is a run-of-river scheme on the river Subansiri. Apart from a 116 m dam, the project involves construction of eight 1,168 m horseshoe-shaped HRTs of 9.5 diameter, eight pressure shafts, a surface power house to accommodate 8 Francis turbines, along with a 206 m long tail race tunnel.