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Hydro power assessment for small ungauged catchments in Himalayan region using
GIS techniques
Arun Kumar , M. K. Singhal
Alternate Hydro Energy Centre,
University of Roorkee Roorkee

Indian power sector has an installed capacity of 86000 MW. Out of which 25% is hydro power and remaining
are thermal, nuclear and gas-based projects. Power shortages in our country are estimated as 9% of total
energy and 18 % of peak capacity requirements. Thermal based power projects have environmental
repercussions related to emission of suspended particles and gases. While, large hydro power plants could
lead to degradation and erosion of soil, loss of forests, wild life habitat and bio-diversity and most important is
the resettlement of people. To promote the environmentally sound energy investments as well as to help in
mitigating the acute shortfall in power supply, the Government of India is promoting development of country's
renewable energy resources and had made it a priority thrust area under India's National Environmental action
plan. As there is vast potential for development of Small Hydro Power projects, enormous funds shall be
required to tap this potential. Considering the large requirement of funds, it may not be possible alone by
Government to provide adequate finances. To mobilize additional resources for the small hydro power, private
sector participation has to be encouraged. In many states, private sector has been invited to tap the hydro
power resources for captive use as well for commercial purpose. Private sector participation in renewable
energy has also increased significantly in recent years as Government of India has opened the power sector to
private sector participation. The run-of-river schemes are existing mainly in hilly areas of Jammu and Kashmir,
Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and North Eastern States of our country. A significant number
o:f potential sites have been identified for development by private developers (table 2). The categories of sites
identified in Himachal Pradesh have been shown in table 3. The schemes allotted to private sector, specially in
Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh, have limited hydrological data. These projects if planned and designed
scientifically, based on regional hydrology, may be less affected by risk and provide excellent opportunity for
development.

Utility of Regional flow Duration Models

Flow duration curve is a simple graphical depiction of variability of water flow at a location without any
reference to the sequence in which this flow would be available. Flow duration curve for the site for which
adequate flow data is available can be directly developed. Flow for various levels of dependability for gauged
site may be estimated from this curve. It is quite obvious that most of the prospective sites for hyrdo-power
projects are likely to be ungauged. For such potential sites, there are either insignificant data or no flow data
available for such analyses.

To derive: a flow duration curve for a location on a stream for which adequate flow data are not available,
Regional flow duration curve may be used. Regional flow models are developed on the basis of data available
for a few other gauged catchments in the same region or transposed from similar nearby region. Such models
are employed to compute flow duration curves for ungauged catchments in that region. Availability of such
regional flow duration models is of paramount significance in estimating the potential of hyrdo-power in remote
hilly regions of the country.

Regional Flow Duration Model Developed Under UNDP-GEF Study

The regional flow duration models for hilly states have been developed by National Institute of Hydrology,
Roorkee in association with Alternate Hydro Energy Centre (AHEC) under Zonal Plan Activity of UNDP-GEF
Hilly Hydro Project - Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Resources, Govt. of India. The yearly flow duration
model provides the pattern of flow at an ungauged catchment. For the development of flow duration model, the
physiographic characteristics of catchment like catchment area, perimeter, length of main channel, elevation of
highest and lowest points, geology of area, hydro-geology of area, land use pattern. climate and other
parameters should have been taken into account. However the model developed under above study is based on
catchment area of gauged site only. The main reason was non-availability of topo-graphical features for
significant number of gauged catchments, availability of data for individual catchment for short length and

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paucity of time and resources in carrying out detailed study. It was decided to pool the available data together
within a region to form a single data series by making them non-dimensional for obivating the need of relating
the flow data of individual catchment with their physiographic characteristics. Only mean flow from a catchment,
used for making the flow record non-dimensional, was related to catchment area.

The flow duration models, under the above study, were developed for nine regions covering all thirteen states
of Himalayan region. These models are expressed mathematically in the form of algebric equations and
graphically in the form of plots. The model data was verified with the actual measured data in case study. As
the confidence limit is not very encouraging, so the flow duration obtained from above regional flow model may
be used only for pre-feasibility studies. The installed capacity may be based on the actually measured
discharge data.

Utility of Remote Sensing Data for Catchment Analysis

Remote Sensing data available in the near infrared region (0.8 um - 1.1 um) provides clearly the contrast
between land and water features and therefore is best suited for mapping perennial streams. IRS-LISS
III-Geocoded False Colour Composites (FCCs) data may be used for identification of catchment boundary,
drainage network, perennial streams, landuse and vegetation cover for these projects. Digital Elevation model
(DEM) of these catchments may be generated by digitizing the elevation contours and spot heights from
topographic maps and using capabilities of ARC/INFO GIS module (ARC-TIN) with user defined azimuth,
elevation and look angle. The catchment boundary, drainage network and location of major habitation may be
overlaid on these DEMs for further analysis.

Objective of Present Study

The objective of study in progress at this centre is to develop the modified regional flow duration model by
collecting the discharge data of more gauged catchments with longer duration and relating more physiographic
characteristics of gauged catchment with the mean flow. The database of Small Hydro Potential sites will also
be updated with the availability of additional information about the catchments

Data to be Used for the Study

To develop the modified regional flow duration model for ungauged catchments and to update the database of
Small Hydro Potential Sites in Himachal Pradesh, following data are being collected by this centre for the
gauged sites
Physiographic characteristics of Catchment Name, Geographic location, Catchment area, Altitude of
gauging station, Mean & maximum altitude of catchment, Influence of ice/snow/glaciers, Catchment
map/drawing., Stream network in catchment area, portion of catchment which is forest or under glacier,
area of catchment covered by snow (mean of maximum snow cover)
Meteorological Data Time-series of river flow data (daily or l0-daily), monthly precipitation, temperature,
solarity, relative humidity and wind speed for all meteorological station with altitude of station
Areal climatology Digital or paper maps of monthly/seasonal/annual precipitation, evaporation,
temperature, snow cover, relative humidity, solarity, wind direction etc.
Digital Terrain Model data (DTM) Digital Terrain Data for Himachal Pradesh (Longitude 75O-79 O 10'
and Latitude 30 O - 34 O) is being procured from SPOT Image Corporation U.S.A. which shall have 305
m elevation posting in a grid data structure. Digital Terrain Models shall be used for computation of
slope, channel length, area of catchment, head available for power generation and location of suitable
sites for civil structures of small hydro power projects such as Diversion Weir, Feeder and Head Race
Channel, Desilting Tank, Forebay Tank, Power House Building etc.

Repetitive satellite data for these catchments may be effectively used to locate the region of
deforestation and impact of small hydro projects development on forest in the catchments. The sites in
deforestation regions may be considered as potential sites for hydro power station to control the
deforestation to a larger extent.
Transmission Line Network Data It is proposed to integrate the existing 11 kV transmission line network
with small Hydro Potential Sites. This information will have a bearing on priority of sites selected for
development as for those sites which are close to existing transmission line network, expenditure on
laying and maintenance of transmission line from small hydro project upto the existing network will be
reduced considerably
Other Data Geology, Hydro-Geology, Soil Cover and Land Use and other parameters are to be related
with modified flow duration curves

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The Gee-Graphic locations of gauged sites have been shown in Fig.l. Some of the sites forming a cluster have
been shown in fig. 2.

Fig.l.

Fig.2.

Conclusion
Development of small hydro projects in remote places of hilly area will enhance the quality of life in these areas.
Development of regional flow duration model and Small Hydro Potential Sites Database will enable to plan for
Hydro-Power Development on a sound scientific basis. This will help in bringing the prosperity to the area in
particular and region in general. Development of Small Hydro Schemes will also help in reducing the migration
from these areas and reduce the dependency on forest and fossil fuel products which are being used to meet
the energy needs. The efficient Small Hydro Potential Sites in GIS environment will hasten the process of
planning and implementation of small hydro projects for which private sector has shown a considerable interest.

References
"Pre-Investment Study of New and Innovative Small Hydero Options", prepared by Alternate Hydro
Energy Center for Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd., Ministry of Non- conventional
energy Sources, Govt. of [ndia-1999
"Development of Regional Flow Duration Models", developed by Alternate Hydro Energy Center in
Collaboration with Department of Earth Sciences, Centre of Remote Sensing, University of Roorkee,
under UNDP-GEF Hilly Hydro Project, Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources, Govt. of India-1998
Brochure for Entrepreneures, issued by Himurja and HPSEB, Himachal Pradesh-1998
India's Electricity Sector - Widening Scope for Private Participation, 4th Edition, issued by-Ministry of
Power Govt. of India - Sept. 1998
"GIS" in Small Hydro Planning Resource Management", By Arun K. Saraf, Department of Earth Sciences
and Arun Kumar, Alternate Hydro Energy Centre, University of Roorkee, journal on GIS Development,
Sept.-Oct., 1997

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Table-1: Small Hydro Schemes for Private Sector Investment

State Total Identified Alloted Under Allotment
Projects Capacity (MW) Projects Capacity (MW) Projects Cpacity (MW)
Andhra Pradesh 17 91.5 17 91.15 - -
Tamil Nadu 70 156.95 3 10.90 - -
Karnataka 166 444.40 39 272.90 - -
Orissa 14 195.70 - - - -
Kerala 65 203.08 8 76.50 48 105
50
Uttar Pradesh 11 104.28 3 25.78 8 78.5

0
Madhya Pradesh 93 158.80 13 22.95 80 135
85
Punjab 22 19.40 - - 22 19.40
Himachal Pradesh 137 200.00 54 69.89 83 130.11
Total 595 1,573.70 137 570.07 241 468.86

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