68. Ways and Means for Fast Track Execution of Kameng Hydroelectric Project (600 MW), Arunachal Pradesh

Construction of hydropower projects is normally a time consuming process, which involves many activities as well as unforeseen happenings. This is also coupled with geological surprises and construction difficulties. But, as the country has recently set a target of speedily adding up 50,000 MW of hydropower to improve its present hydro thermal mix, it is the need of the hour to start constructing hydropower projects in a more accelerated manner taking help of various recent advancements in technology and judicious management of men and machinery. Kameng Hydroelectric Project (600 MW) is a moderately large project, which envisages construction of two concrete gravity dams, tunnelling of 16 km in difficult sub-Himalayan geology and a semi underground powerhouse to house 4 machines of 150 MW each. Nevertheless, it looks to be a difficult proposition to complete the construction of the project synchronizing an otherwise tight schedule of 5 years (TEC accorded for 6 years 8 months) especially in view of difficult approaches, uncertain geology, probable encountering of thrust/shear zones and natural calamities like unprecedented rains and flood. But, with efficient project management, adoption of modern machinery and methodology, prompt and appropriate decisionmaking at both project and corporate levels, effective monitoring and back study along with consequent corrective measures, the same is definitely possible. This paper deals at length various aspects of construction, major thrusts to be given in the probable critical items of works including application of appropriate managerial tools and construction methods towards achievement of the said objective. Attempts have also been made to identify various probable causes of delay and acquiring ways and means to nullify the same. As time is the essence of everything, it is of utmost importance to cut short time for construction, which is in turn required to have a check on cost over-run.