SHILLONG: The Meghalaya Power Generation Corporation Limited is celebrating the Golden Jubilee of the Umiam Hydro Electric Project Stage I which was conceived in the 1950s as part of the Umiew-Umiam-Khri-Umtrew basin development plan to harness the power potential of the basins.
Superintending Engineer (C) Investigation and Design Circle, MePGCL, HW Lyngdoh Mawnai said that the construction of the project was formally inaugurated by Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, on January 9, 1960 and the first unit of the project was commissioned on November 9, 1965.
The then President of India, Dr. S. Radhakrishnan formally inaugurated the project on March 1, 1966.
Mawnai informed that the Umiam Lake was formed by the building three dams so as to contain the water in the Umiam valley which is flowing in the river Umiam. These three dams were strategically planned in order to harness the yield from the runoff of 221 Sq.Km. of the Umiam catchment at the dam site.
According to Mawnai, the Umiam-Umtru Stage-III or Kyrdemkulai Power Station, Umiam-Umtru Stage-IV Power Station and the Umtru Power Station having capacities to generate up to 60MW, 60MW and 11.2 MW (to be upgraded to 40MW) respectively have been developed so far.
The present total generating capacity from the Umiam-Umtrew transbasin development is 187.2 MW and the average annual energy that is produced is about 530 MU.
He added that when it comes to water conservation, it is still the largest water-body project in Meghalaya providing one of the biggest concentrated fish habitats in the State. Black and spotted brown ducks and sometimes even pelicans and other birds are spotted in the 10 Sq.Km. lake during the migrating seasons providing a sojourn and a temporary sanctuary for the migratory birds
“Water requirements of the Rangmen Cantonment are also being met from this lake. Direct employment to about 3000 people, benefitting 12000 to 15000 lives, at any given time over the past 50 years have also largely contributed to the welfare and socio-economic development of the State and our neighbouring state of Assam,” he added.
The Lake is one of the major tourist attractions of the state. He, however, lamented that the majestic splendour of this place is slowly being throttled from all sides. “The once lush green natural surroundings have now been pockmarked by man-made structures. In the mouth of the reservoir, the silt has filled almost the entire stretch of the once popular fishing spots at Jri, Diewlieh, Dongrala and reaching up to Jingkieng Kalong.
He also observed that the pollutants, mostly from Wahumkhrah and Umshyrpi that are being regularly dumped have drastically interfered with the ecology of the lake. “The once abundant Shalynnai and the Sher have disappeared,” he added. “If a no-development zone could be declared around the lake in the remaining patches of land that are undeveloped it would go a long way in preserving its serenity,” he said.
