Panic as NEEPCO releases excess Doyang dam water

31 July 2018:

The North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited (NEEPCO) has released excess water from the dam at Doyang Hydro Electric Project in Nagaland’s Wokha district.

According to official sources, due to incessant rainfall in the catchment area, the water level of Doyang reservoir is on the rise again.

“All the gates have been opened for release of excess water from the dam. As there is heavy rainfall in the catchment area, the inflow of water in Doyang reservoir is very high. Therefore, to maintain the balance of water in the reservoir, the water is being released. It is also to inform that this release of water is not the stored water from Doyang dam but the excess inflow of water in the reservoir,” the sources said.

The development has left people living downhill along the inter-state border in Assam worried. The excess water, released last week, had flooded a number of villages in Assam’s Golaghat district forcing the affected to take refuge on highland. Those marooned alleged that they were not provided with relief by government authorities.