Question : ACCIDENT AT TEHRI DAM

(a) whether there has been an accident in Tehri Dam recently;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) the number of casualties and damage suffered due to said accident;

(d) whether the Government has ordered an inquiry into the accident;

(e) if so, the details thereof and the time by which the inquiry is likely to be completed;

(f) the compensation paid/proposed to be paid to each family of victims by the Union/State Government, separately; and

(g) the steps taken by the Government to check recurrence of such incidents in future?

THE MINISTER OF POWER ( SHRI P.M. SAYEED )

(a) : Yes, Sir.

(b) : There has been a massive rockfall in T-3 shaft of spillway from Elevation Level (EL) 695 M around 10.30 P.M. on 2nd August, 2004 in Tehri HEP Stage-I (1000 MW). The rock mass fell on the platform of `slip form` erected at EL678M. The `slip form` fell down on the swirling device area along with the rockfall. As a consequence, the protection platform above the swirling device area also collapsed.

(c) : 28 workers and one executive have died and 11 workers of M/s. JPIL were injured in this incident.

(d) & (e) : A High Level Inquiry Committee headed by Shri M.S. Reddy, Ex- Chairman, Central Water Commission & Ex-Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources and one Member each from Central Water Commission (CWC) and Central Electricity Authority has been constituted on 03rd August, 2004 by the Government of India with the following terms of reference:

(i)	To enquire into the cause-human, mechanical geological, etc. leading to the	accident at the underground site of the Tehri HEP.

(ii)	Recommend remedial measures for repair and reconstruction.

(iii)	To determine lapses, if any, and to fix responsibility thereof.

(iv)	Recommend to the Government measures for foreseeing geological surprises.
The Committee is required to submit its report within one month.