NHPC highlights the reason for damages to NH-10

TT, SILIGURI, 23 Oct 2016: In the recent past, it has been reported in the local press that National Highway 10 is sinking because of erosion at certain locations between Coronation Bridge and Teesta Bridge. In these reports it has been further stated by West Bengal, PWD Deptt that the erosion caused on the NH 10 is due to construction of 2 Hydel power Projects Teesta Low Dam –III and IV on the river Teesta.
NHPC while constructing the above 2 Projects took utmost preventive measures as recommended by various statutory authorities to strengthen the river banks at vulnerable points on NH 10 employing appropriate engineering measures that include constructing plum concrete wall with rock anchors and wire crates. NHPC continued to monitor the vulnerable locations along the National Highway by way of visit by multi-disciplinary experts from its head office every year and takes effective measures whenever it required in order to protect the right bank. NHPC has been always sensitive to the issue and worked earlier in close coordination with BRO so as to ensure that road traffic is not hampered on this important National Highway. During this year also NHPC undertook repair works in certain locations after discussion with state PWD.
During the recent monsoon, the road failures have been reported in locations where road level is much higher than the river water level and as such these failures are clearly not related to the operations of hydro power plants in anyway. It is a common knowledge that certain locations along the highway are historically known to be sinking zones and this phenomenon is known to have occurred when the projects had not come into existence.
NHPC strongly feels that the damages in NH 10 are mainly due to improper water management, absence of adequate catch water /step drains in hill slopes & drainage/cross drainage works along roads and non-functions of weep holes/pressure relief holes provided in breast wall causing ingress of rain water underneath the road formation and thereby causing the failure of retaining wall constructed on river side of roads and failure of formation width of roads in form of subsidence and road slope failure.
NHPC is of the view that the need of the hour is to formulate a comprehensive plan to avoid recurring failures and there by mitigating the inconvenience of the general public.