The state-owned North Eastern Electrical Power Corporation (NEEPCO) today said the water level at its Ranganadi Dam in Arunachal Pradesh actually helped divert excess water and minimised floods in the downstream.
"Had the dam not been there, situation in the downstream could have been worse," NEEPCO chairman and managing director A G West Kharkongor said here.
He said the maximum discharge of 160 cumec of water from Ranganadi reservoir is utilised for hydro power generation, which eventually diverts 160 cumec to Dikrong river through tail race channel helping in mitigating downstream discharges.
The CMD's statement came in the wake of several Assam-based organisations blaming NEEPCO for the floods in Subansiri district.
According to the NEEPCO official, the 405 MW Ranganadi Hydro Electric Project on Ranganadi river in Arunachal Pradesh is a run-of-river scheme with a very small pondage.
The reservoir provides cushioning effect in controlling downstream discharges, he said.
Due to incessant torrential rains in the catchment areas of Ranganadi river since June 30, the inflow of water in the river increased substantially and achieved the maximum level on July 9, he said.
After utilising the water required for power generation, excess water was spilled over through the gates of the dam in a controlled manner, Kharkongor said.
The natural flood occurring in the upstream of the project cannot be absorbed by the reservoir only, the NEEPCO official clarified.
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