Kohima: North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited (NEEPCO) opened all four spillway gates at the Doyang Hydro Electric Project on August 5. This move forced downstream safety warnings across Assam. The dam sits on the Doyang River in Nagaland's Wokha district. It features four radial gates measuring 12 by 12 metres.
Senkathung Patton, head of the power station, noted that staff operate the gates based on a strict manual. The protocol accounts for "reservoir safety, downstream safety, prevailing hydrological conditions and weather forecasts issued by the competent authorities."
Rain hammered the catchment area from July 20 to July 22. Water levels jumped from EL 315.60 metres to EL 319.50 metres. NEEPCO reported an inflow of 68.02 million cubic metres during those 48 hours. By July 22, officials warned they would open gates once levels hit EL 321.00 metres. Controlled releases started on July 23 at EL 321.40 metres.
Initial discharge began at 29 cumecs. It climbed to 209 cumecs by July 24 as all gates opened to 1.25 metres. Inflows slowed after July 25, allowing crews to partially close the gates. However, new heavy rain forecasts from the India Meteorological Department and Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority forced further adjustments through August 4.
August 5 brought more flooding. Kohima saw 137.4 mm of rain in one day. NEEPCO pushed discharge back to 207 cumecs by 1 pm that day. The company shares data through the "NEEPCO Flood Alert GLGT" WhatsApp group. Members include district officials from Golaghat and Wokha, the Central Water Commission, and disaster management agencies.
The facility uses five automatic weather stations and 67 total warning sirens to keep the public safe. NEEPCO stated: "All gate operations were executed in a phased, controlled, and well-coordinated manner, while ensuring continuous dissemination of information to all concerned authorities and downstream communities well in advance."
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