Parvati-II tunnel leakage reported, houses allegedly damaged
Parvati-II tunnel leakage reported, houses allegedly damaged
Kullu, Sept 20,
Himalayan Niti Abhiyan has raised concerns over water leakage from a tunnel of the Parvati-II hydroelectric project, alleging that the leakage during the night of September 19 damaged some houses at Palchara in Raila village of Kullu district.
According to HNA, the leakage occurred below Edit-5 of the project, around RD 14,000. The tunnel emerges at Bhat Kandha, while Edit-5 and Palchara are situated below it.
The organisation said the Parvati-II project diverts water from the Parvati river through a tunnel from Barshaini towards the Sainj river for power generation. It alleged that the project has increased the vulnerability of Raila panchayat and adjoining settlements to landslides and ground instability.
A dumping site has been established behind Palchara, below which Raila village is situated. Himalayan Niti Abhiyan said that during the monsoon last year, debris accumulated at the dumping site triggered a landslide, resulting in damage to two houses.
It further claimed that cracks have appeared in Raila village and nearby hamlets, including Shulga, Dahra, Rumbra, Khadoha, Bagidhar and Rakh Sukhal, since water was introduced into the tunnel last year.
The organisation said around 15 to 20 houses in Jiva and the upper reaches of these settlements were also damaged during last year’s monsoon.
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HNA also raised concerns over seepage from the mountain slope above the powerhouse at Siund. It said the slope had been strengthened with cement, but several points had developed water seepage after water from the Parvati project began flowing through the system.
The organisation has sought an immediate technical assessment of the tunnel, dumping site and vulnerable slopes, besides necessary safety measures for people living in the affected villages.
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