Preparatory works are in full swing to resume dam construction for the 1,200 MW Punatsangchhu-I Hydroelectric Project. Construction of the dam is expected to start within the next two to three months. The work, which was halted in 2019 due to geological issues, is set to resume after thorough discussions and consultations between Bhutan and India.
For more than six long years, the massive dam pit of the Punatsangchhu-I Hydroelectric Project remained silent and abandoned without the sound of a single machine or the movement of people.
The construction site stood completely still after the work was halted due to severe geological issues, including recurring landslides and the gradual sinking of the right bank slope above the dam site.
Technical experts from both Bhutan and India carried out extensive studies to address and resolve various issues related to the dam design and the stabilisation of the right bank slope at the dam site.
Likewise, the two sides held numerous discussions and consultations, which ultimately led to the decision to proceed with the construction of the dam.
Accordingly, preparatory works to resume the main dam construction commenced last week.
Preparatory works include the construction of approach roads from the upstream and downstream sides, mobilisation of manpower and construction equipment, and the establishment of batching plants and aggregate processing plants to produce concrete for the main dam structure.
Likewise, labour colonies, a dispensary, and mess facilities will be constructed at the site for the workers.
According to officials from the project authority, slope stabilisation measures will be carried out alongside the dam construction to address the right bank stability issue. These measures include the installation of concrete piles, cable anchors, and other related works using specialised machinery. The project authority also stated that the approach and construction schedule for the road diversion works are being finalised.
Meanwhile, according to the Gase Tshowom Gup, consultation meetings regarding private land acquisition are underway among the project authority, the gewog administration, and the public, as some private land and houses fall within the project area.
The project authority also stated that although the completion deadline for the dam construction can be determined only after finalising the main dam construction schedule, it expects the construction to be completed in around four years.
The construction of the Punatsangchhu-I Hydroelectric Project commenced in 2008 to be completed by 2016 at an initial estimated cost of over Nu 35bn.
However, due to persistent geological problems at the dam construction site, the project is facing prolonged delays with costs escalating to nearly Nu 100bn now.
Changa Dorji, Wangdue Phodrang
Edited by Phub Gyem
