Power Minister Abu Taher Mondal today expressed satisfaction with the progress of the ongoing repair work of the Umiam dam and bridge.
Mondal who visited the dam rehabilitation and retrofitting work at the Umiam dam today also inspected the works and reviewed the progress, pointing out that the rehabilitation works are done to improve the structure of the dam which is over 50 years old.
“I am glad to see that the work is making progress as the ongoing rehabilitation work of the dam and the bridge. This is very crucial to increase the lifespan of the dam by 25-30 years. The department is working on all fronts to ensure that there is no compromise on safety of the dam and the bridge though we are working to complete the work within the stipulated time period. The traffic movement has been restricted to ensure smooth progress of the rehabilitation and I appeal to the public to be patient as this will benefit the public in the long run,” he said.
The Power Minister discussed with the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL) officials on maintaining the safety protocols to improve the life of the structure and power generation from the dam.
Meanwhile, Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL) Chairman cum Managing Director, Sanjay Goyal said that the delay to complete the work was due to repair work on the dam bridge.
“We are taking the rehabilitation work of the bridge also and that is the reason that it is taking some time, and we are restricting the load as well as the traffic movement during the repair period. We regret the inconvenience which is caused to the public but I am sure it is for the betterment of the structure,” Goyal said.
According to him, the project entails the strengthening and rehabilitation of the dam as well as repairing the bridge.
“The rehabilitation work will not only improve the life of the structure, but to ensure that the power generated through the structure – the dam as well as the bridge is not impacted in any case,” Goyal added.
Meanwhile, Mondal yesterday visited the Myntdu Leshka Hydro Project in West Jaintia Hills to review the project’s current power generation status and address related operational issues.
During his visit, Mondal held discussions with officials of the Meghalaya Power Generation Corporation Limited (MePGCL) on the ongoing repairs to the first unit of the Leshka project which is expected to be back online by June 15.
One key point raised during the review was the lack of mobile network connectivity at the power house. A potential solution involving a repeater communication system using VHF sets was proposed to improve communication between workers at the dam site and those at the power house.
Mondal also took the opportunity to visit the Leshka dam site and inspect the ongoing works undertaken as part of the Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project.
He emphasised the importance of diligent work and professional precision to Multi Tech Engineers, the firm entrusted with the project’s completion.
The visit by the power minister underscores the importance placed on the Myntdu Leshka Hydro Project and the ongoing efforts to ensure its smooth operation.
During the visit, Mondal was accompanied by MePGCL director Roland Majaw and other senior engineers from the corporation.
