Shillong: The Meghalaya Power Generation Corporation Limited launched a new tender for a seismic study of the Umiam Stage-I dam. It is a vital hydropower asset. The state government posted the request on its e-procurement portal on September 17. Bidding ends October 1 at 3 pm, with results opened one hour later.
The agency wants a 1-D Multichannel Analysis of Surface Waves investigation. The project runs four generating units of 9 MW each. Total capacity hits 36 MW. Workers commissioned the site in 1966. It is now nearly six decades old.
Officials claim no current safety failures exist. The study will provide fresh data on ground conditions and earthquake resistance. The site has faced scrutiny before. The Central Water and Power Research Station previously recorded traffic-induced vibrations on the concrete structure.
MePGCL has yet to say why this test is happening now. The corporation must still address, "whether the latest investigation is part of a routine dam-safety exercise and whether any strengthening or rehabilitation work could follow its findings." Results will dictate if the state needs to fund structural upgrades to keep the aging plant running safely.
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