NEW DELHI: The strident opposition to the construction of the Tehri Hydel dam in the Himalayas is not based on scientific data and the 360 billion rupees project is “absolutely safe” from all angles, according to a top official of the Tehri Hydro development corporation (THDC).
“We have made sure we are on solid ground. The dam has been designed to exactly safety standards,” S.P. Singh, chairman and managing director of THDG, told newsmen here.
Singh said the theory of reservoir induced earthquakes is not supported by any evidence anywhere in the world.
He said alternatives suggested such as run of the river schemes were more expensive, time consuming and strictly dependent on monsoon rains and would not match the generating capacity of the present scheme,
The Hydel dam, on the other hand, would impound’ immense quantity of water to be used for producing power and for irrigation purposes, he said. Singh said Indian engineers were capable of designing and constructing the hydel dam and the Soviet assistance was mainly because of the credit facility offered by them.
The technical assistance given by the Soviet is, of course, of great value as the Russians have had rich experience and expertise in the construction of such dams in more difficult areas than Tehri, he said.
Asked about the Soviet expert’s attitude towards the row over the dam, Singh said the soviets were “amused” by it as the opposition to the dam is devoid of any “‘scientific backing.
NEW DELHI: A Defense scientist has been included in the five member technical committee appointed by the Indian government to evaluate the state of preparedness of India’s domestic carrier, Indian Airlines to operate the airbus 320s.
Article extracted from this publication >> March 2, 1990
