Visit of Hon’ble Secretary, MoENR, RGoB to PHPA-I Project Sites (30 September, 2023)
Hon’ble Secretary, Ministry of Energy & Natural Resources (MoENR), RGoB, Mr. Karma Tshering, who is also the Authority Member, visited the Punatsangchhu-I Project sites on Saturday, 30.09.2023. The visit was made mainly to oversee the progress made & actions taken after the Secretary level bilateral meeting held in Delhi on 14.08.2023 and the 31st Technical Coordination Committee (TCC) Meeting held at Project site on 28.09.2023. Dasho Secretary was accompanied by Mr. Ugyen, EO to Chairman of PHPA-II.
Dasho made a brief visit to the underground Powerhouse where he was received by the Management, E&M and Civil teams along with WAPCOS, BHEL, HCC and other E&M Contractors. Dasho inspected the progress of both the Civil and E&M works in the Powerhouse and also inaugurated the Machine Hall’s Illumination work (MEM-8A Contract) carried out by PHPA-I and M/s Avaids Technovators as the Contractor. Considering the substantial progress achieved in both the Civil and the Electro-mechanical (E&M) works inside the powerhouse, Dasho expressed his satisfaction and conveyed his appreciation to the entire Management, E&M and Civil teams and advised for ensuring proper maintenance of the civil works and preservation of the erected E&M equipment so that its operational readiness and performance are not compromised when water becomes available in future. Dasho also expressed that the hard work of both Civil and E&M teams can be gauged well only when the structures and equipment are put to various tests, commissioned and made operational leading to smooth performance in future.
Thereafter, Dasho visited the left bank of the Dam site from where he saw an overview of the physical markings for additional boreholes to be drilled on the Right Bank (RB) slope as surveyed by DGPC and WAPCOS and which were later endorsed by the 31st TCC for execution in phases. Dasho stated that these additional boreholes would further confirm the Right Bank geology to enable provisioning of additional stabilization measures before Dam works are resumed. Dasho also inspected the RADAR system installed on the left bank by the Power Intakes to monitor the RB movement.
31st TCC Meeting held on 28.9.223
Punatsangchhu-I Hydroelectric Project Authority held its 31st Technical Coordination Committee Meeting (TCC) successfully on September 28, 2023 at the Project site which was preceded by a detailed site visit of the dam site on 27.09.2023. The TCC decided on the various phases of additional geological investigations to be carried out to confirm the right bank geology before dam works can be resumed. Further, TCC also directed the project management to carry out other parallel activities of planning for the dam construction & for appraisal of the Project Authority. TCC also agreed to meet every month to review the progress of the drilling works.
Visit of Director General, Director General of Audit (Central), Kolkata, India (1-5 July, 2023)
Smt. Debolina Thakur, Director General, DGAC, Kolkata and the accompanying audit team visited Punatsangchhu-I Project for attending the Joint Audit Exit Review Meeting held on 3.7.2023 at Bjimthangkha, Wangdue. After the meeting, she visited various project sites on 4.7.2023 whereby the status and progress of various components like the Dam Site, underground Power House, Surge Shaft, etc. were observed. While at the Power House site, the DG and the team also planted a few tree saplings by the muck dumping site near the Surge Shaft area. The DG appreciated the progress of the works at the sites and urged upon the Management to complete the project on priority once the two governments decide on the diversion scheme to be adopted
Visit of Dzongdag, Dzongkhag Administration, Wangdue Phodrang (10 July, 2023)
With the taking over of Dzongkhag Administration, Wangdue in May 2023, Dasho Phub Rinzin, who is also the Authority Member of PHPA-I made a familiarization visit to the Project on Monday, 10.07.2023 along with other senior officials from the Dzongkhag. Dasho was received at the Dam site by the Management of PHPA-I and apprised about the Dam site work progress and challenges faced by the Project. Dasho also visited the left bank site from where he gathered an overview of the right bank slide and the current status of the same. Thereafter, Dasho visited the underground Power House complex where he appreciated the completion of Civil Works and the advanced progress achieved on the Electro-Mechanical Work fronts. After completion of the visit, Dasho proceeded to PHPA-II sites in the afternoon.
