Subansiri project's total cost up by Rs. 1,200 crore.

The total cost of National Hydroelectric Power Corporation's Subansiri project in Assam has gone up by about Rs. 1,200 crore due to forced suspension of work since December 2011, following agitation by a section of stakeholders on grounds of safety-related aspects and downstream impact.

The NHPC has already spent about Rs. 6,600 crore but due to stoppage of construction of the project, the cost of the project has gone up by about Rs. 1,200 crore, according to a status report prepared by the public sector undertaking.

There is a recurring expenditure of Rs. 50 crore every month due to work stoppage and any more delay will further escalate the cost of the project which will ultimately affect the people of Assam in terms of higher cost of electricity.

Huge losses are occurring on account of idling of men and machinery. Assam will get around 533 MW of power, which is more than 25 per cent of the total power which in terms of energy is equivalent to about 2,000 million units (MU) annually, valued at about Rs. 600 crore.

The Hindu