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Tag: NTPC

  • Joshimath sinking: Scientists claim 30 percent of ancient town is ‘hollow’

    Express News Service

    DEHRADUN: Joshimath, an ancient town adjacent to the border district, which has been hit by a natural disaster, is finding it difficult to recover from this crisis at the moment.

    In a major revelation, scientists have found that a large part of Joshimath, which is facing land sinking issues, has become hollow. “A huge amount of soil has been washed away with water. So far, cracks ranging from 40 to 50 meters deep have been found inside the ground at about 460 places.” 

    Disaster management officials believe that in such a situation, 30 percent of the area affected by landslides can collapse at any time. Therefore, there is no option but to immediately displace the nearly 4000 affected people settled in this area.” Buildings with cracks will have to be demolished soon.

    On the other hand, Joshimath residents took out a huge public awareness rally on Friday against the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) project. Hundreds of disaster-hit people, including traders, took to the streets and raised slogans of ‘NTPC go back, go back’. There was also anger against the government, the road leading to NTPC township from TCP Bazar was tightly guarded by the police in view of security. The area of the NTPC project office has been converted into a cantonment due to security reasons.

    The National Institute of Hydrology team has found in its findings that, “Land submergence in Joshimath gradually increased on the night of January 2. Meanwhile, muddy water started seeping from the hilly area behind the JP company’s residential colony, which still remains a puzzle for administrative officials and scientists”.

    In the last 23 days, about 2,21,40 thousand liters of water has leaked inside the ground. This amount of water is equivalent to a large lake.

    The most shocking report on water leakage is from the National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad. The report says, “Joshimath’s sloping mountain is built on a pile of debris, the soil that was covered with stones has been washed away in the water. The lower part of the stones has become hollow. Therefore, the ability to bear loads is gradually disappearing”. At the same time, CBRI has seen three sites for displacement.

    ALSO READ | Rehabilitation a difficult task for Joshimath administration, even the affected not unanimous

    This has been revealed from the preliminary report of the central investigating agencies. The report has been submitted to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). According to sources, the NDMA has already made a presentation in the Union Home Ministry on Wednesday. Scientists believe that after the final report of the investigation, the picture of Joshimath can be more ‘frightening’. Because sooner or later the entire Joshimath will be hit by it.

    According to sources, the survey found that there are 2500 houses in the land submergence area, in which 4000 people living are affected. At the same time, 30 percent of the buildings with cracks have been recommended to be demolished immediately. While it has also been suggested to explore the possibility of retrofitting the rest of the buildings. 

    The government is giving top importance to the opinion of scientists as well as the interests of the affected, a detailed blueprint is being prepared for this,” the state cabinet and minister in charge of Joshimath, Dr Dhan Singh Rawat, told The New Indian Express.

    “The government is fully sensitive to setting up new cities and compensation for the displaced and they will be rehabilitated as per the opinion of the affected people.”

    Departments and institutes involved in saving Joshimath

    1. Central Building Research Institute (CBRI) has been assigned for the construction of pre-fabricated model buildings for temporary rehabilitation, inspection of broken buildings as well as demolition.

    2. The Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology: Seismology Geophysical Analysis as well as the Geophysical Survey are to submit their final report to the institute in two months.

    3. IIT Roorkee: A geotechnical survey is being conducted at Joshimath by IIT Roorkee. In this study, the scientists of the institute will find out what is the position of soil and stones in the geology of Joshimath. What is its load bearing capacity.

    4. NGRI, Hyderabad: A geological map up to a depth of 30 to 50 meters in Joshimath will be prepared with geophysical and geotechnical survey work. It has to submit its final report to the government in three weeks.

    5. National Institute of Hydrology (NIH): Conducting hydrological surveys in the affected area. The institute team will prepare a complete map of the water flowing in the ground here.

    6. Geological Survey of India (GSI):  To conduct geological study of land selected for land survey and rehabilitation of affected area in Joshimath.

    7. Central Ground Water Board (CGWB): Will ascertain the direction and position of spring water and its flow below the ground. 

    8. Indian Institute of Remote Sensing (IIRS): The ground movement of Joshimath is constantly being monitored. The institute will submit the final report to the government in three months.

    DEHRADUN: Joshimath, an ancient town adjacent to the border district, which has been hit by a natural disaster, is finding it difficult to recover from this crisis at the moment.

    In a major revelation, scientists have found that a large part of Joshimath, which is facing land sinking issues, has become hollow. “A huge amount of soil has been washed away with water. So far, cracks ranging from 40 to 50 meters deep have been found inside the ground at about 460 places.” 

    Disaster management officials believe that in such a situation, 30 percent of the area affected by landslides can collapse at any time. Therefore, there is no option but to immediately displace the nearly 4000 affected people settled in this area.” Buildings with cracks will have to be demolished soon.

    On the other hand, Joshimath residents took out a huge public awareness rally on Friday against the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) project. Hundreds of disaster-hit people, including traders, took to the streets and raised slogans of ‘NTPC go back, go back’. There was also anger against the government, the road leading to NTPC township from TCP Bazar was tightly guarded by the police in view of security. The area of the NTPC project office has been converted into a cantonment due to security reasons.

    The National Institute of Hydrology team has found in its findings that, “Land submergence in Joshimath gradually increased on the night of January 2. Meanwhile, muddy water started seeping from the hilly area behind the JP company’s residential colony, which still remains a puzzle for administrative officials and scientists”.

    In the last 23 days, about 2,21,40 thousand liters of water has leaked inside the ground. This amount of water is equivalent to a large lake.

    The most shocking report on water leakage is from the National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad. The report says, “Joshimath’s sloping mountain is built on a pile of debris, the soil that was covered with stones has been washed away in the water. The lower part of the stones has become hollow. Therefore, the ability to bear loads is gradually disappearing”. At the same time, CBRI has seen three sites for displacement.

    ALSO READ | Rehabilitation a difficult task for Joshimath administration, even the affected not unanimous

    This has been revealed from the preliminary report of the central investigating agencies. The report has been submitted to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). According to sources, the NDMA has already made a presentation in the Union Home Ministry on Wednesday. Scientists believe that after the final report of the investigation, the picture of Joshimath can be more ‘frightening’. Because sooner or later the entire Joshimath will be hit by it.

    According to sources, the survey found that there are 2500 houses in the land submergence area, in which 4000 people living are affected. At the same time, 30 percent of the buildings with cracks have been recommended to be demolished immediately. While it has also been suggested to explore the possibility of retrofitting the rest of the buildings. 

    The government is giving top importance to the opinion of scientists as well as the interests of the affected, a detailed blueprint is being prepared for this,” the state cabinet and minister in charge of Joshimath, Dr Dhan Singh Rawat, told The New Indian Express.

    “The government is fully sensitive to setting up new cities and compensation for the displaced and they will be rehabilitated as per the opinion of the affected people.”

    Departments and institutes involved in saving Joshimath

    1. Central Building Research Institute (CBRI) has been assigned for the construction of pre-fabricated model buildings for temporary rehabilitation, inspection of broken buildings as well as demolition.

    2. The Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology: Seismology Geophysical Analysis as well as the Geophysical Survey are to submit their final report to the institute in two months.

    3. IIT Roorkee: A geotechnical survey is being conducted at Joshimath by IIT Roorkee. In this study, the scientists of the institute will find out what is the position of soil and stones in the geology of Joshimath. What is its load bearing capacity.

    4. NGRI, Hyderabad: A geological map up to a depth of 30 to 50 meters in Joshimath will be prepared with geophysical and geotechnical survey work. It has to submit its final report to the government in three weeks.

    5. National Institute of Hydrology (NIH): Conducting hydrological surveys in the affected area. The institute team will prepare a complete map of the water flowing in the ground here.

    6. Geological Survey of India (GSI):  To conduct geological study of land selected for land survey and rehabilitation of affected area in Joshimath.

    7. Central Ground Water Board (CGWB): Will ascertain the direction and position of spring water and its flow below the ground. 

    8. Indian Institute of Remote Sensing (IIRS): The ground movement of Joshimath is constantly being monitored. The institute will submit the final report to the government in three months.

  • Joshimath sinking: Residents to hold protests on R-Day, blame NTPC over disaster

    Express News Service

    JOSHIMATH: Terming the incident a “man-made disaster”, the residents of Uttarakhand’s sinking town of Joshimath blamed the National Thermal Power Corporation Ltd. (NTPC) for the ongoing land subsidence in the region.

    Unhappy with the state government’s decisions, the Joshimath Bachao Sangharsh Samiti (JBSS) has demanded the closure of the NTPC’s Tapovan project.

    On the occasion of Republic Day, locals have decided to ‘gherao’ the authorities and lock down the tunnel work, under which ward-wise programs will start from Tuesday.

    Atul Sati, convenor of Sangharsh Samiti, said, “Now that evidence has been received, NTPC is solely responsible for this tragedy and the destruction of Joshimath’s cultural heritage. Therefore, the compensation should also be recovered from NTPC.”

    The committee members also unanimously decided there should be displacement along the lines of Tehri Dam.

    Sangharsh Samiti convener Atul Sati also alleged that since the Joshimath tragedy case has gone out of the hands of the Dhami government, the central government will have to take a consensus and swift action at the earliest.

    The Sangharsh Samiti leaders also expressed anguish over the manner in which relief cheques were being distributed and called the photo-ops “a cruel joke on the disaster victims.” 

    Expressing his anguish to this correspondent, Vivek Panwar, a resident who has been associated with the profession of trekking and skiing for the past 15 years, said, “It is very important for the state government to make arrangements for the residence and employment of Joshimath residents as well as understand their feelings before they are displaced.”

    “You have ruined our business…our Joshimath,” he added.

    ALSO READ | Joshimath: The neglected warning from 46 years ago

    JOSHIMATH: Terming the incident a “man-made disaster”, the residents of Uttarakhand’s sinking town of Joshimath blamed the National Thermal Power Corporation Ltd. (NTPC) for the ongoing land subsidence in the region.

    Unhappy with the state government’s decisions, the Joshimath Bachao Sangharsh Samiti (JBSS) has demanded the closure of the NTPC’s Tapovan project.

    On the occasion of Republic Day, locals have decided to ‘gherao’ the authorities and lock down the tunnel work, under which ward-wise programs will start from Tuesday.

    Atul Sati, convenor of Sangharsh Samiti, said, “Now that evidence has been received, NTPC is solely responsible for this tragedy and the destruction of Joshimath’s cultural heritage. Therefore, the compensation should also be recovered from NTPC.”

    The committee members also unanimously decided there should be displacement along the lines of Tehri Dam.

    Sangharsh Samiti convener Atul Sati also alleged that since the Joshimath tragedy case has gone out of the hands of the Dhami government, the central government will have to take a consensus and swift action at the earliest.

    The Sangharsh Samiti leaders also expressed anguish over the manner in which relief cheques were being distributed and called the photo-ops “a cruel joke on the disaster victims.” 

    Expressing his anguish to this correspondent, Vivek Panwar, a resident who has been associated with the profession of trekking and skiing for the past 15 years, said, “It is very important for the state government to make arrangements for the residence and employment of Joshimath residents as well as understand their feelings before they are displaced.”

    “You have ruined our business…our Joshimath,” he added.

    ALSO READ | Joshimath: The neglected warning from 46 years ago

  • Uttarakhand: Selang village is going Joshimath way, say locals 

    By PTI

    SELANG: Selang, a village around five km from subsidence-hit Joshimath, is likely to meet a similar fate as cracks and fissures have been appearing in fields and several houses for the past few months.

    Located on Badrinath National Highway (NH-58), residents of Selang said they are scared and the Joshimath crisis has only deepened their fears.

    The villagers hold the construction of NTPC’s Tapovan-Vishnugad hydel project responsible for their plight. Tunnels of the project are built underneath the village.

    A hotel situated along the NH near the mouth of one of these tunnels collapsed in July 2021 and petrol pump nearby was also partially damaged, Selang resident Vijendra Lal told PTI.

    The houses located near the collapsed hotel are also at risk, he said.

    “Nine NTPC tunnels are built underneath the village. A lot of explosives were used to construct the tunnels which has damaged the foundation of the village,” Lal claimed.

    ALSO READ| Joshimath redux: Alarm bells in HP villages located near infra projects

    “A water discharge system is also being built 100 metres down the main settlement area in the village. A few metres from it towards the village cracks have begun to appear,” he said, adding that around 15 houses have “developed cracks”.

    Selang village’s van panchayat sarpanch Shishupal Singh Bhandari said the life of residents has become miserable due to the NTPC project.

    “Many applications were sent, but no action was taken,” Bhandari said “The damage started about one decade ago when NTPC began digging its tunnels in the area. When people protested, NTPC got insurance of the houses done through a private company. But now when houses are developing cracks, it is running away from compensating the house owners,” he said. Bhandari said some people of the village who work in the NTPC project keep telling about the blasting work done frequently inside the tunnels.

    “If it goes on, the situation in the village will worsen,” he said.

    “The situation in Selang is not as bad as that in Joshimath, but if corrective action is not taken soon it may meet the same fate,” Mahila Mangal Dal president of the village Bhawani Devi said.

    SELANG: Selang, a village around five km from subsidence-hit Joshimath, is likely to meet a similar fate as cracks and fissures have been appearing in fields and several houses for the past few months.

    Located on Badrinath National Highway (NH-58), residents of Selang said they are scared and the Joshimath crisis has only deepened their fears.

    The villagers hold the construction of NTPC’s Tapovan-Vishnugad hydel project responsible for their plight. Tunnels of the project are built underneath the village.

    A hotel situated along the NH near the mouth of one of these tunnels collapsed in July 2021 and petrol pump nearby was also partially damaged, Selang resident Vijendra Lal told PTI.

    The houses located near the collapsed hotel are also at risk, he said.

    “Nine NTPC tunnels are built underneath the village. A lot of explosives were used to construct the tunnels which has damaged the foundation of the village,” Lal claimed.

    ALSO READ| Joshimath redux: Alarm bells in HP villages located near infra projects

    “A water discharge system is also being built 100 metres down the main settlement area in the village. A few metres from it towards the village cracks have begun to appear,” he said, adding that around 15 houses have “developed cracks”.

    Selang village’s van panchayat sarpanch Shishupal Singh Bhandari said the life of residents has become miserable due to the NTPC project.

    “Many applications were sent, but no action was taken,” Bhandari said “The damage started about one decade ago when NTPC began digging its tunnels in the area. When people protested, NTPC got insurance of the houses done through a private company. But now when houses are developing cracks, it is running away from compensating the house owners,” he said. Bhandari said some people of the village who work in the NTPC project keep telling about the blasting work done frequently inside the tunnels.

    “If it goes on, the situation in the village will worsen,” he said.

    “The situation in Selang is not as bad as that in Joshimath, but if corrective action is not taken soon it may meet the same fate,” Mahila Mangal Dal president of the village Bhawani Devi said.

  • Uttarakhand tragedy: One more body found in tunnel at hydel project site in Tapovan

    By PTI

    GOPESHWAR: The body of yet another Rishiganga tragedy victim was recovered on Tuesday from a tunnel at the NTPC’s hydel project site in Tapovan in Chamoli district, nearly two years after the massive disaster, officials said.

    The body was found 590 feet inside the SFT tunnel of Tapovan-Vishnugad hydel project when it was being cleared of debris, they said.

    The hydel project site in Tapovan suffered extensive damage in the tragedy caused by a glacial burst which flooded the Rishiganga river in February last year.

    The body is without its head, left hand and left leg and has not yet been identified, district disaster management officer N K Joshi said.

    Four bodies have been recovered over the past three months from the Tapovan site.

    As many as 204 people had gone missing from Tapovan and Rishiganga power project sites after the tragedy, and bodies of 92 of them have so far been found.

    GOPESHWAR: The body of yet another Rishiganga tragedy victim was recovered on Tuesday from a tunnel at the NTPC’s hydel project site in Tapovan in Chamoli district, nearly two years after the massive disaster, officials said.

    The body was found 590 feet inside the SFT tunnel of Tapovan-Vishnugad hydel project when it was being cleared of debris, they said.

    The hydel project site in Tapovan suffered extensive damage in the tragedy caused by a glacial burst which flooded the Rishiganga river in February last year.

    The body is without its head, left hand and left leg and has not yet been identified, district disaster management officer N K Joshi said.

    Four bodies have been recovered over the past three months from the Tapovan site.

    As many as 204 people had gone missing from Tapovan and Rishiganga power project sites after the tragedy, and bodies of 92 of them have so far been found.

  • Politics over power crisis intensifies as ruling and Opposition leaders exchange barbs 

    By PTI

    JAIPUR: Politics over power outages due to an alleged shortage of coal supply intensified in Rajasthan on Friday as the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP leaders exchanged barbs over the issue.

    Terming power outage a “national crisis”, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot expressed concern over the alleged shortage of coal supply in the country amid the increase in electricity demand during summer.

    He said the power demand has increased in 16 states due to the rising mercury levels while no adequate quantity of coal is being supplied and it is affecting the power generation.

    “This is a national crisis. I appeal to everyone to unite in this crisis and support the government in improving the situation. Turn off non-essential electrical appliances at your home or workplace. Set your priorities and use electricity in accordance with your need,” Gehlot said in a tweet in Hindi.

    He also condemned the Rajasthan unit of the BJP for putting pressure on the employees of the power distribution companies by staging protests as the BJP on Friday held protests across the state outside electricity offices.

    “In Rajasthan, the BJP is putting pressure on the electricity department employees who are doing their work in a challenging atmosphere amid the power crisis, by staging demonstrations,” the veteran Congress leader said.

    “It is the Centre’s job to provide coal to states. Will the directionless state BJP leadership ask the Centre why is it not able to provide coal in accordance with the demand, due to which there has been a crisis in 16 states?” he asked.

    Soon after his remarks, BJP state president Satish Poonia said Gehlot was trying to blame the Centre and the BJP for his failure to manage the power crisis.

    “I think the power crisis surfaced in Rajasthan due to the state government’s failure to manage it but the chief minister wants to blame the Centre and the BJP,” he said.

    He said the DIPR letter dated April 24 had stated that there is no shortage of coal in Rajasthan. The letter exposes the words and deeds of the chief minister, he said.

    The students in the state are suffering from power cuts during the exam season and common people, farmers and traders of the state are suffering in this scorching heat.

    Deputy leader of Opposition Rajendra Rathore also held a press conference on the issue and accused the state government of being responsible for the power crisis in the state.

    He said Chief Minister Gehlot should take cognisance of the severe crisis instead of blaming the BJP for pressurising power department employees through its protests.

    “The chief minister in his budget speech had announced slabs for a rebate in electricity bill and promised that farmers will get electricity during day time but if there is no electricity, how will the people be benefitted,” Rathore said.

    He said the state’s power distribution companies are facing a loss of Rs 90,000 crore which is a matter of concern.

    On the other hand, Congress state president Govind Singh Dotasra said how can Rajasthan be accused of mismanagement when 16 states were suffering from power outages due to the lack of adequate coal supply by the Centre.

    “It seems there is a conspiracy to benefit some capitalist people. It is the Centre’s responsibility to provide coal to the states. Out of 173 plants in the country, 106 plants have either 10 to 15 per cent coal or have exhausted their fuel,” he said.

    Dotasara said it has become the BJP’s habit to put the onus on the states, ignoring the Centre’s faulty policies whether it be on the Covid management or the inflation.

    He said the BJP only knows how to pitch brother against brother and cause religious polarisation to harvest votes.

    Meanwhile, the Delhi government on Friday flagged an “acute shortage” of coal, claiming many power plants are left with a day’s stock and warning supply disruptions in the city while Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said the situation was being handled somehow.

    The chief minister called for quick and concrete steps to tackle the crisis facing the country.

    Talking to reporters, Delhi Power Minister Satyendar Jain said there is an “acute shortage” of coal due to the unavailability of an adequate number of railway rakes and warned there may be “difficulty” in electricity supply if power plants are shut.

    Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) held an emergency meeting with various power agencies and announced various steps to mitigate the situation.

    In a reply to the Delhi government’s coal shortage claims, the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) said in a tweet that currently the Unchahar and Dadri power stations, supplying electricity to the national capital, are running at full capacity and receiving “regular” coal supplies.

    “All six units of Dadri and five units of Unchahar are running at full capacity and receiving regular coal supplies.

    Present stock is 1,40,000 MT and 95,000 MT respectively and import coal supplies are also in pipeline, NTPC tweeted.

    However, Kejriwal claimed the power situation in the whole of India is very grave.

    “There is a huge shortage of power in the country. So far we have managed it somehow in Delhi. The situation is very grave in the whole of India. Together, we soon need to find a solution. Quick, concrete steps are required to tackle this problem,” he tweeted.

    The NTPC, in another tweet, said, “Currently Unchahar and Dadri stations are declaring more than 100 per cent rated capacity to the grid.

    All units of Unchahar and Dadri are running at full load except Unchahar unit one, which is under annual planned overhaul.

    ” Amid a deepening coal shortage, the Delhi government on Thursday had warned that there may be a problem in providing an uninterrupted electricity supply to important establishments in the city, including Metro trains and hospitals.

    The DERC, after a meeting with discoms and other agencies, said, “Power crisis expected to be arising out of current coal shortage and spurt in short-term power prices.

    “To mitigate power crisis and safeguard the interest of consumers and distribution licensees, DERC, as an interim measure, allowed intra-discom banking facility, overlapping of banking and bilateral transactions, pass-through of additional deviation and sustain deviation charges with immediate effect. The interim measures will remain in effect till July 31,” the DERC statement said.

    Jain said the main reason for the “huge shortage” of coal was the lack of an adequate number of railway rakes.

    Instead of increasing the number of railway rakes, it has been reduced from 450 to 405, he said.

    The minister also claimed that power plants, including Dadri and Uchahar, had only a day’s stock of coal that usually should be for 21 days.

    He also denied any pending payments of Delhi to the Centre for coal supply.

    Jain had held an emergency meeting to assess the situation and wrote to the Centre requesting it to ensure adequate coal availability to power plants supplying electricity to Delhi.

    Sources said the Delhi government may scale up electricity generation at its gas-based power plant with a 1,500 MW capacity.

    However, the cost of gas could be a restrictive factor in doing so, they said.

    Delhi receives 1,751 MW of power each day from Dadri-II, Unchahar, Kahalgaon, Farakka and Jhajjar plants.

    It gets the maximum supply of 728 MW from the Dadri-II power station, and 100 MW from the Unchahar station, the Delhi government had said earlier.

    The peak power demand of Delhi has been shooting up with maximum temperature reaching record levels.

    The city’s power demand peaked at 6,050 MW at 11. 17 PM on Thursday.

    Discoms expect the peak power demand of Delhi to be around 8,200 MW in the coming months.

  • India’s peak power demand touches an all-time high of 207,111 MW

    By IANS

    NEW DELHI: Amid a severe heatwave sweeping across India, the peak power demand in the country touched an all-time high of 207,111 MW on Friday, the Ministry of Power said.

    “The maximum All India demand met touched 207111 MW at 14:50hrs today, an all-time high so far!,” the ministry tweeted.

    Power demand has been on the rise ever since the onset of the summer season this year. The power demand met this month up to April 28 increased by 12.1 per cent to 204.653 GW from 182.559 GW during same period previous year, the ministry said.

    The maximum all-India demand met on Thursday was 204,653 MW.

    Meanwhile, Delhi Power Minister Satyendar Jain said on Friday that there is a severe coal crisis across the country and many power plants have just one day’s coal stocks left.

    Raising the alarm over the ongoing coal crisis, Jain said, “No (power) backup (is there)… (the) coal backup should be for over 21 days, but at many power plants, less than a day’s (stock) is left.”

    He added, “If electricity is being produced, and we keep getting it, there’s no issue. But if the power plant shuts down, it will be problematic (in Delhi)… There’s a coal shortage in the country.”

    However, the NTPC later issued a statement that read: “All six units of Dadri and five units of Unchahar are running at full capacity and receiving regular coal supplies. Present stock is 140,000 MT and 95,000 MT, respectively, and import coal supplies are also in pipeline.”

    It added: “Currently, Unchahar and Dadri stations are declaring more than 100 per cent rated capacity to the grid. All their units are running at full load except Unchahar Unit#1, which is under annual planned overhaul.”

  • India’s peak power demand touches an all-time high of 2,07,111 MW

    By IANS

    NEW DELHI: Amid a severe heatwave sweeping across India, the peak power demand in the country touched an all-time high of 207,111 MW on Friday, the Ministry of Power said.

    “The maximum All India demand met touched 207111 MW at 14:50hrs today, an all-time high so far!,” the ministry tweeted.

    Power demand has been on the rise ever since the onset of the summer season this year. The power demand met this month up to April 28 increased by 12.1 per cent to 204.653 GW from 182.559 GW during same period previous year, the ministry said.

    The maximum all-India demand met on Thursday was 204,653 MW.

    Meanwhile, Delhi Power Minister Satyendar Jain said on Friday that there is a severe coal crisis across the country and many power plants have just one day’s coal stocks left.

    Raising the alarm over the ongoing coal crisis, Jain said, “No (power) backup (is there)… (the) coal backup should be for over 21 days, but at many power plants, less than a day’s (stock) is left.”

    He added, “If electricity is being produced, and we keep getting it, there’s no issue. But if the power plant shuts down, it will be problematic (in Delhi)… There’s a coal shortage in the country.”

    However, the NTPC later issued a statement that read: “All six units of Dadri and five units of Unchahar are running at full capacity and receiving regular coal supplies. Present stock is 140,000 MT and 95,000 MT, respectively, and import coal supplies are also in pipeline.”

    It added: “Currently, Unchahar and Dadri stations are declaring more than 100 per cent rated capacity to the grid. All their units are running at full load except Unchahar Unit#1, which is under annual planned overhaul.”

  • One more body recovered from Tapovan tunnel, toll in glacier burst rises to 81

    By PTI
    GOEPSHWAR: More than two months after a glacier burst in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district, one more body was recovered from the Tapovan tunnel on Saturday, taking the death toll in the tragedy to 81.

    The rescue teams recovered the body from a tunnel at the National Thermal Power Corporation’s (NTPC) Tapovan-Vishnugad hydel project in the morning, the Chamoli district disaster control room said.

    On February 7, an avalanche triggered by the glacier burst caused large-scale damage to the project, besides completely demolishing the Rishiganga hydel project at Raini village in the district.

    Eighty-one bodies and 36 body parts have so far been recovered from different places hit by the disaster, the control room said, adding that 48 bodies have been identified while 123 people are still missing.

  • NGT directs NTPC to pay Rs 58 lakh for damaging environment in Uttarakhand

    Express News Service
    DEHRADUN: Even as the National Green Tribunal (NGT) upheld the penalty of Rs 57.9 lakh on the Tapovan Vishnugad Hydropower project imposed by the Uttarakhand pollution control board for violating muck disposal regulations in Chamoli, decrying environmentalists feel it is not enough. 

    The NTPC project at Tapovan is the same site where a majority of 205 persons lost their lives in the flash floods that took place close to three weeks back. 

    Chairman of the SC-appointed high power committee to monitor the Char Dham Pariyojna of Uttarakhand, Ravi Chopra, feels that it is a welcome step but more needs to be done in this regard. The panel has been consistently pointing out the violations regarding muck disposal on the 889-km long road widening project. Projected as a dream project of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it is valued at over Rs 12,000 crore.

    “It is being observed repeatedly that irresponsible muck disposal is causing mayhem in Uttarakhand. There is an urgent need for environmental policing and strict action against organisations that openly flout guidelines. A mechanism should be in place to report such acts which are detrimental to the ecology and environment,” said Anoop Nautiyal, an analyst based in Dehradun. Nautiyal heads Social Development for Communities, an organisation that is involved in COVID data analysis in the hill state.

    The tribunal dismissed the appeal of the NTPC against the fine imposed by the board.

    Observing that there is no merit in the appeal as ‘Polluter Pays’ principle has been rightly invoked for damage to the environment, a three-member bench of the tribunal comprising of Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel, Justice Sheo Kumar Singh, and expert member Dr Nagin Nanda in the order dated February 18, 2021, stated, “From the above, it is seen that even according to the appellant, the remedial measures are yet to be completed. Credible reports, considered earlier, quoted above show that slope of the muck dumped was hazardously double the standards with potential for erosion. Erosion was already seen in terms of gully formation in down streams of the muck dumps. Thus, it is clear that the operative muck disposal sites were not being maintained as per MoEF laid down norms.”

    The board had found deficiencies in muck disposal sites and had issued a notice to NTPC on June 29 last year. It had observed that damaged toe protection and contour stone walls should be repaired and strengthened with proper engineering design while recommending suitable fencing to control excess human and animal interference, unattended works of leveling, surface smoothing, and removal of unwanted material and spreading of available soil at the site should be completed, application of manure and fertilizer to improve the soil fertility and plantation of suitable species of grasses, shrubs and tree in a degraded area. 

    Following this, an inspection was conducted in October 2020 in which the board noted, “the slope of muck dump is observed to be about 60° which is hazardously double the standards. The upstream side of the muck dump is subjected to the entry of water which has further added to trigger severe mass erosion. Under such unstable conditions, as expected, huge mass erosion has been seen in terms of very deep gully formation downstream of this muck dump.”

    Later, on December 7, 2020, the PCB fined the NTPC following which an appeal was filed by the power company in the tribunal.

  • Chamoli disaster: Many people found in Tapovan tunnel were alive till Feb 13, says official

    Express News Service
    DEHRADUN: After MS Khati, additional chief medical officer of Chamoli district said that those found from the tunnel must have been alive for 4-5 days, the state government officials issued a clarification on Tuesday evening.  

    MS Khati, the ACMO earlier in the day had said, “Most people found in the tunnel died 2-3 days after the flash floods. The post-mortem reports indicate that they died 4-5 days back. Many of died on February 12-13.”

    A total of 11 bodies have been recovered from the Tapovan tunnel out of which two were recovered on Tuesday. 

    ALSO READ | Chamoli Disaster: More bodies found inside Tapovan tunnel 

    Dr GS Rana, chief medical officer of Chamoli district who featured in the clarification video on the matter, said, “The Post-mortem of all 58 bodies has been conducted following the norms. These people died of trauma due to multiple reasons including injuires, filling of sludge, muck, sand and water in their lungs. I have been conducting the PMs myself and supervising the teams doing so. After going through every single PM report I have to say that with such injuries and in such conditions they would not have been alive for more than 30 minutes.”

    Rana also added in the video that the ACMO was not pary of the post-mortem teams nor he was authorized to comment in the matter. 

    Apparently, ACMO’s statement affirms allegations by the locals whose family members are missing. 

    The local residents whose family members are said to be trapped in the tunnel have alleged that the NTPC Limited officials are not being able to supervise the rescue efficiently in the early days of the disaster. 

    TNIE had earlier reported that how two senior officials at the forefront of the operations have confirmed that they got layout of the tunnel only on February 9 which hampered the rescue efforts for the first two days- Feb 7, and 8.

    A senior official had told TNIE on the condition of anonymity, “First two days we were blind!”

    Local residents lashed out on the NTPC. “Now it has been proved that we were right about the irresponsible attitude of the NTPC. They did not do enough to save our family members,” said Suraj Rao one of the protesters at the rescue site at Tapovan Hydro Power which took place on February 12. 

    The locals had also raised slogans- NTPC Murdabad and warned that no political leader should come to the spot anymore.

    Till date, apart from 58 bodies, 23 body parts have been recovered from various spots after February 7 flashfloods while 146 are still missing. 

    Severed limbs, heads, chunk of flesh amidst deposition of muck and waters of Rishi Ganga, Dhauli Ganga, Alaknanda, tributaries, rivulets and various other spots are being recovered by the multi-agency rescue team.

    ALSO READ | Over 300 personnel join Chamoli rescue operations in Uttarakhand

    Navneet Bhullar, Commandant, Uttarakhand State Disaster Response Force who is on ground supervising the teams said, “It is a harrowing sight. The bodies which are found are decomposed, disfigured so the family members and relatives are identifying them by articles wore by them- watches, jewellery, belts and even clothing in some cases.”

    Majority of the body parts of total of 23 include severed limbs. Out of these only one belonging to Vicky Kumar from Saharanpur was identified by his brother. 

    To date, a total of 53 bodies and 20 body parts have been disposed off with suitable last rites and rituals. The police have also registered 52 cases related to the missing people.

    Apart from forming a Whatsapp group to relay and gather the information from the family members of the missing, the police have issued helpline numbers for the families- 01372-251487 and 9084127503. 

    For the majority of the family members of the missing, only hope is the DNA test results.

    Om Prakash, chief secretary of Uttarakhand said commenting on the formation of the artificial lake on Rishi Ganga river, 8kms upstream , from Raini village, said, “The lake is stable and it is draining which is good. We will try to drain it fully to minimise the threat. There is also a proposal to establish a glacial monitoring institute to monitor the glaciers.”