Continuous delays at the 600 MW Kameng hydroelectric project site has forced the developer – NEEPCO — to push further the commissioning schedule of the project. The commissioning of the project, earlier scheduled by June 2016, is now expected by March 2017. The project was initially scheduled to be commissioned by December 2009, but was rescheduled several times due to various setbacks in project execution.
The project suffered earlier due to bad geology in head race tunnel, floods in September 2012 and contractual issues. In a recent review meeting with the Central Electricity Authority, NEEPCO informed that the works have now picked up and the main critical works of Bichom Dam and head race tunnel are being expedited. For concreting in Bichom Dam, NEEPCO is planning to deploy two tower cranes and one concrete pump to achieve a progress of about 25,000 cum concreting per month. In head race tunnel, lining work has started. With these efforts, NEEPCO is hoping to commission the project as per the new schedule.
Meanwhile, NEEPCO continues to await the approval of revised cost estimates for the project. The project was accorded CCEA clearance at a cost of Rs.2,496.90 crore in December 2002 at March 2004 price level. The total cost of the project has now been estimated at Rs. 5,139 crore at December 2011 price level, for which the CCEA approval is pending.
Kameng hydroelectric project is a run of a river scheme in West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh. The project envisages construction of four units of 150 MW each and two dams at Bichom and Tenga. The annual energy generation from the project is estimated to be 3,592 million units in a 90 per cent dependable year.
