The 520 MW Tapovan-Vishnugad hydropower project in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand being set up by NTPC has been put on hold following excessive discharge of water from the underground tunnel, forcing the state government to order an inquiry.

The project is located nearly 1.5 km from Joshimath. The inquiry came after a group of local residents of Joshimath submitted a memorandum to the government expressing concern over the excessive discharge of water in the underground tunnel alleging that it will create an environmental hazard in the area.

The inquiry is likely to be conducted by technical experts of the state-run Jal Sansthan and PWD.

An investment of Rs 800 crore is proposed in the project on the Dhaulganga river, a tributary of Alaknanda. The project was conceived as a merchant power project which is proposed to be commissioned by 2012.

Also See:

NTPC to commission power projects in Uttarakhand by 2017 (07-Oct-09)