Haste to complete dam could have led to overlooking of safety standards

  • 07/12/2003

The Tehri District Administration has now conceded that as many as 109 workers were present in the Diversion Tunnel T-3 of the Tehri Dam when the rockslide took place on 2 August. This figure is above the 80 stated earlier, placing a question mark on the work records maintained by the THDC and the contractor, JP Industries. This is one of the many questions that have come to the fore after the tragedy that claimed the lives - by official admission - of 29 workers and seriously injured 11 others. The Union Power Minister PM Sayeed, who visited the site on 4 August - as did the Chief Minister, ND Tiwari - has ordered an inquiry by a three-member team to be headed by MS Reddy, former Chairman of the Central Water Commission. The report is to be submitted within a month.