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ISSUES AND CHALLENGES OF HYDROPOWER DEVELOPMENT IN

UTTARAKHAND

Sanchit S. Agarwal
David E. Rheinheimer
M.L. Kansal
Department of Water Resources Development & Management
Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee 247 667
November, 2015
Importance of Energy
• Energy – a key player in overall development of a country.
• Energy - a strategic commodity & a key factor to achieve various MDGs set
by UN (India is one of the active members), such as to eradicate poverty, public health,
education, gender equality, and environmental sustainability.
• India’s Population - 1.27 billion – second largest
- Fourth in terms of energy consumption.
- About 300 million people have no access to electricity.
• Annual per capita energy consumption
India - 1010 kWh
Developed countries - 10,000-15,000 kWh.
• 12th Five Year Plan - GDP growth target - 8 - 9%.
Require two fold increase in energy consumption in next ten years.
• Electricity for all by 2019 – is target set by GOI

To achieve this – Strategies for power Generation, Transmission, Distribution,


Regulation, Conservation and Communication are required.

Source: Strategy for Providing 24 x 7 power supply, Forum of Regulators, December 2014
India’s Energy Resources & Installed Capacity
Coal
Reserves

Capacity Target for 12th Five Year plan (2012-2017): 88537 MW


Capacity achieved upto August 2015 : 64794 MW (73%)
Source: http://powermin.nic.in/power-sector-glance-all-india, CEA, mapsofindia
STORAGE
Advantages
• Increased dependability of river flow
• Multi purpose - irrigation, drinking water,
flood control, and recreational activities
• Help to achieve food, water, and energy
security
Limitations
• Large initial investment;
• Rehabilitation & Resettlement issues;
• Adverse impact on fisheries, flora & fauna
• Issues of water quality and quantity.
Image: IPCC SRREN, 2011
RUN OF RIVER
Advantages
• No submergence issue
• No R&R issues
• Low impact on water quality, river
ecosystem, and the environment
Limitations
• Low dependability
• Chances of flooding
• Chances of river getting dry if not monitored
strictly
Image: IPCC SRREN, 2011
Uttarakhand Energy Scenario
• Uttarakhand – Rich state in hydropower resource, but still face shortage of
power.
• Required demand - about 12,000 MU/year; shortage of about 3%. Short term
procurement meets upto 25% of energy requirement
• The projected energy requirement: about 20,000 MU by 2020.

Source: 24 x7 Power for All; Uttarakhand

Source: CEA, Executive Summary, Power Sector, August 2015, Hydropower IC from UJVNL
River Basins in
Uttarakhand and
Operational HPPs

Estimated potential :
20000 MW
Total installed capacity :
3943.15 MW (19.71% of
potential)

Installed Installed Installed Projects under various stages of


Basin
Above 25 MW Below 25 MW Total Consideration (MW)
Alaknanda 730 55.35 785.35 3897.8
Bhagirathi 1794 56.9 1850.9 3454.5
Sub Ganga 144 29.7 173.7 531.5
Ramganga 198 5.5 203.5 33
Sharda Kali 441.4 10.55 451.95 3058 Source: UJVNL website:
Yamuna 474.75 3 477.75 1260.9 Hydropower projects
Total 3782.15 161 3943.15 12235.7
Major Uncertainties Encountered in Hydropower Development
• Delay in Site clearances , Lack of detailed EIA Studies,
• Delay in approval of technical specifications,
Planning/Design • Unrealistic cost and time estimates,
• Uncertainty in social acceptance of the project in early stages.
• Geological surprises during soil testing, tunnelling & drilling etc.
• Revision of technical drawings due to relocation/ strengthening
of various project components like dam, power house etc.
• Addition/removal of generating units,
• Occurrence of natural calamities such as flood and earthquake
Construction • Termination of on-going contracts due to various reasons such
as inflation, lack of technical preparedness, etc.
• Complexities of power evacuation arrangement
• Socio-Legal Issues
• Act of war/terrorism.
• Unprecedented floods, huge sediment inflow, drought
conditions
• Below expected power generation due to unexpected faults in
Operation generation units, power evacuation issues, unplanned
maintenance/ technological upgradation, etc.
• Due to construction of a new project on U/S or D/S,
• Unexpected damage to environment on U/S or D/S.
• Increased cost due to Inflation, market fluctuations, etc.
Issue & Challenges in Hydropower Development
Environmental flows on downstream side GHG emissions

Sedimentation issues Submergence and R & R Issues,


1000 MW Tehri Hydropower Project- A Case Study
 Brief Timeline

• Tehri Dam project (under Govt. Of UP) report submitted to GoI in 1969.

• Initial capacity 600 MW; increased to 1000MW in 1983.

• Final approval in 1994, initial estimate of about Rs. 3000 Crores.

• All four units of Tehri commissioned by 2006-07.

• Final cost: Rs. 8392 Cr.

 Benefits

• Electricity supply to 9 states of Northern India

• Drinking water supply is provided to Uttar Pradesh and Delhi.

• Tehri hydropower project provided constant supply of water


and electricity to Maha Kumbh in Haridwar, 2010.

• Tehri reservoir helped in flood control of Bhagirathi River,


which prevented destruction of Rishikesh and Haridwar in
2013.
Challenges in Development of Tehri HPP
Geological Constraints
•Topography of region was unfavourable for construction of surface power house, which led to
excavation and tunnelling for underground PH increasing construction challenges.
•Detailed investigations of seismicity due to location in Himalayan region with high seismic risk.

Financial Constraints
Project encountered funding issues in the initial years when funding from USSR stopped due to
their political instability, increased cost due to changes in capacity, R&R packages.

Technical Revisions
The project underwent change in capacity in 1983, from 600 MW to 1000 MW causing changes in
design, submergence area etc.

Political-Administrative Challenge
Transfer of ownership of project from one government body to another led to administrative
hurdles and delays.

Socio-Legal Issues
• Complete submergence of Tehri Town, mandating
Resettlement & Rehabilitation (R&R) of thousands of
people.
• Protests & legal actions by environmentalists, NGOs
and project affected families.

Source: THDC website, Various reports on Tehri Hydropower Project


Concluding Remarks

• Hydropower potential of Uttarakhand is 20000 MW, out of which about 3943 MW


has been developed i.e. 20% of the total potential.

• Uttarakhand aims to expand hydropower substantially to help meet projected


energy needs.

• A large number of projects are held up in the state due to multiple uncertainties
and challenges - geological, natural disasters, environmental, socio-legal and
administrative.

• There is a need to address these issues to increase the viability of hydropower.

• Solutions should be suggested during planning & design and implemented during
O & M.
THANK YOU!
HPPs Damaged by Floods, 2013

99 MW Singoli Bhatwari,
5 MW Motighat,
Kund, Uttarakhand, Floods
Pithoragarh,
2013
Uttarakhand, Floods
2013

400 MW
Vishnuprayag,
Alakananda,
Uttarakhand, Floods
2013
Social Protests against Hydropower Projects

Against 444 MW Vishungad Pipalkoti, Against Dam construction on Pindari


Alaknanda River River
Main social issues:
Projects affected by civil protests:
• Rehabilitation & Resettlement
• 99 MW Singoli Bhatwari
• Emotional loss of leaving hometown
• 1000 MW Tehri PSS
• Lack of compensatory benefits
• 171 Lata Tapovan
• Loss of places of cultural and religious
• 444 MW Vishnugad Pipalkoti
importance
• Impact of dam building on local
environment

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