Acid in River Kopili Caused by Coal Mining in Meghalaya: NEEPCO Director

Guwahati, October 14, 2019:

NEEPCO has started the rescue operation for the four workers, along with the engineer, who are feared trapped inside a pump house, after a pipeline carrying water to Kopili hydro-power pipe burst in Dima Hasao district of Assam.

The rescue operation began during the wee hours on Sunday by diverting the water flowing inside the two-story basement turbine room where the missing workers are suspected to be trapped.

Also Read:Assam: Rescue Operations Yet to Begin at Kopili Blast Site in Dima Hasao

The intake gate connecting the pipeline was closed on Saturday night to recede the pressure from the pipeline. 95 per cent of the machinery was damaged in the project due to waterlogging.

A team of the NDRF and SDRF are engaged in the rescue operations. However, there is still no trace of the missing persons so far.

The local MLA along with NCHAC members visited the site to take account of the situation there. As per the independent Director of NEEPCO, Vijay Kumar Gupta, the pipeline was damaged because of corrosion of the metal pipes due to the acidity in Kopili river water which is a result of coal mining in Meghalaya. He had earlier warned the Union Minister including Assam and Meghalaya about the acidities but no attention was paid to this.

Locals have alleged NEEPCO for the incident and further added that the effect will be there in its other project at Khandong Power Station.

General Manager of NEEPCO, Debatosh Bhattacharjee has informed that repairing is done wherever it is necessary.

Also Read: Dima Hasao Locals Mourn Lack of Safety Measures at NEEPCO Pipe Rupture Site

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has directed DIGP Southern Range PK Dutta to probe the matter.

On the other hand, Dima Hasao Students’ Union has demanded a judicial inquiry into the incident since it is a technical lapse.

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