Malkangiri locals demand reopening of Gamphakonda Hydro Power Project, watch

Malkangiri: After attaining district status, two small hydro power stations were established on the Gamphakonda Canal of Malkangiri. This project was constructed by Odisha Hydro Power Corporation Limited (OHPC). The project work started in 1992 and ended in 2008. Initially electricity was produced and supplied to the Kalimela and Padia blocks of the district.

However, after running for a few days, the project suddenly stopped working and it is yet to resume work till today though long years have passed. Even the employees have not been made permanent although about 30 years have passed. And hence, the locals have conveyed their dissatisfaction in this matter.

There was a time when Malkangiri district was completely deprived of education, health, transportation facilities and electricity system. Then people were afraid to step outside their house due to Naxal fear.

Yet, after 2001, the situation gradually started changing despite fear of Maoists. Slowly, the district which has forests, jungles and hills, started to create its own identity. Blue print was made for construction of Hydro power projects. The water released from the district’s Balimela hydro power station was brought through the canal and two numbers of 3 MW small hydro power stations built at Gamphakonda.

The construction work started on August 1, 1991 by OHPC and completed in 2008. Finally, the project started producing electricity. However, after running for a short term it stopped working which is yet to resume power generation.

This project was approved by the Irrigation and Power Odisha. Erection, testing and commissioning work of the power house 1 and power house 2 were given to Chennai’s Best & Crompton Engineering (BCEL).

Similarly, the construction work of the 33 KV power supply was executed by IDCO while the switch yard works of the Power House 1 and 2 was given to M/s HIW of Berhampur.

In 1987, the initial cost of this project was Rs. 5 crores 46 lakh. However, now the project worth crores of rupees, is not working.

The Kalimela and Padia blocks of Malkangiri district were supposed to get 6 MW electricity from this project. But no one knows why this work was stopped. Were there any technical errors? If so, why no repair work was undertaken even after 32 long years? Was there any sort of unofficial contract between the engineer and the contractor? Many such questions have been raised by the local people.

Back then, 3 MW of electricity was being produced only from one power house. However, why this hydro power station did stopped operation after running merely for 15 days while crores of rupees were spent on the construction of the 2 hydro power projects by OHPC.

The initial cost of this project was Rs 5 crore 46 lakhs, but Rs 1 lakh 11 thousand 304 rupees were spent on repairs and maintenance in 1999-2000. Again, Rs 3 lakh 14 thousand 669 rupees was spent in 2000-2001 and Rs 3,04,215 was spent in 2001-2002.

Similarly, Rs 65,116 was spent in 2002-2003, Rs 2,73,411 in 2003-2004 and Rs 5,98,328 spent in 2004-2005 for maintenance and repair.

Again Rs 3,12,125 was spent in 2005-2006, Rs 4,94,299 was spent in 2006-2007 and Rs 2,95,913 was spent in 2007-2008 on repair and maintain ace. And Rs 1,55,564 was spent in 2008-2009, Rs 2,13,633 in 2009-2010 and Rs 2,53,260 was spent in 2010-2011 and Rs 2,73,832 was spent in 2011-2012 and Rs 4,56,637 in 2012-13 for maintainance and repair.

Again, Rs 4,76,938 spent in 2013-2014, Rs 3,74,000 in 2014-2015, Rs 2,80,000 spent in 2015-2016. Similarly, Rs 3,74,000 was spent in 2016-2017 and Rs 4,11,917 in 2017-2018 towards maintainace and repair.

Summing, a total of approximately Rs 35 crore is said to have been spent for the entire hydro power project here till date. However, even after 32 years have passed, the hydro power project could not be operational.

This has also led to destruction of many costly machines. Expensive equipment such as compression gearbox, turbine, hydro water pump, grease pump, generator and generator rotors may turn into garbage within some time. Goods worth crores of rupees are being wasted but nobody is worried about this, lamented a local.

In the initial days there were no regular workers in this project. Power House 1 and Power House 2 were built with only 34 people who had been engaged as contract labourers. These contract labourers have been working for the last 30 years. Starting from Rs 700, they are earning Rs 8,000. But their employment is not permanent. They have not been regularised.

How families of these labourers will run with Rs.8000? There is no one to listen. These temporary employees have warned to launch protest for not getting permanent employment.

This project was stopped showing Naxal attacks as the reason. Due to non-generation of electricity from this power station, OHPC is incurring a loss of Rs. 8 crores to Rs. 10 crores annually.

A guest house was constructed along with the project in Gamphakonda. This house, which looks beautiful from outside, looks like a haunted house from inside. Chairs, tables, cots etc. are lying inside.

The four wheelers used for the guest house are destroyed. Due to not being used properly, they are in such a condition.

This year a drought like situation has been observed in Malkangiri district. Hundreds farm lands have incurred crop loss due to lack of water. Cows are grazing in the paddy fields.

Many farmers had taken bank loan for farming. In such a situation, farmers are worried about paying back the loan. How they will nourish their families?

If the two hydro power projects would have run then there would not have the problem of water and employment.

When contacted, the OHPC authorities in Jeypore denied to give any reaction in this matter.

Report: M Amaresh Kumar, Kalimela, Malkangiri

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