Construction of hydropower projects in a planned manner is unlikely to interfere with the stability of the Himalayas which not only has the maximum water potential in the country but also the maximum unexploited hydropower potential, a renowned expert said here on Friday.
“Scientists fear that the calamity in Uttarakhand a few months ago is a precursor to bigger and more destructive floods. So, more storage projects should be undertaken in the Himalayan region to avoid such deadly disasters in future,” Dr MM Madan, Director (Hydel) at the GVK Group said while presenting a paper at the annual convention of the Indian National Academy of Engineering (INAE)) being held at the SOA University here.
Arguing in favour of more ‘run of the river’ (ROR) projects without much interference with natural silt movement down the river, he said the hydro projects could not have in any way contributed to the Uttarakhand catastrophe. “In fact, the Tehri Hydro Project, which is a storage project, absorbed the excess discharge in the Bhagirathi and helped in saving towns of Rishikesh and Hardwar in the downstream,” he said, claiming that the storage dams “are saviour for the downstream population.”
The INAE is the topmost body of engineers and technocrats in the country. The academy which recognises excellence in engineering through its awards will honour several engineers and scientists at an award function. Prof Kl Chopra, former Head, Department of Physics, IIT, Delhi, and Col SP Wahi, former Chairman of ONGC, will be conferred with lifetime achievement awards.
Stating that hydropower projects are the second largest contributor of India’s energy demand, Dr Madan said it, however, receives the least priority as compared to thermal projects despite being the most efficient and economical energy source. Bemoaning that the power supply position of India was deteriorating day by day due to lack of fuel, poor implementation and poorer hydro-thermal mix, he said it is essential to have 40-60 mix of hydro, thermal and other sources of energy to have a satisfactory power supply position.
“At the end of the 11th Plan, this mix was 21-79, creating an imbalance in the power management,” Dr Madan, who is a former Executive Director of NHPC, said. He said today’s hydel plants have an efficiency of more than 90 per cent and they have low operational and maintenance costs once the project is commissioned.
He pointed out that in Norway, hydropower’s share of the country’s total generation is 99 per cent followed by 84 per cent in Brazil, 74 per cent in Venezuela, 59 per cent in Canada and 49 per cent in Sweden. But India’s hydel share of total generation stands at 18 per cent. Referring to the Uttarakhand disaster, Dr Madan said torrential rains and unplanned constructions mainly contributed to the tragedy. Besides the rainfall, huge quantity of water was released into the river from melting of ice and glaciers due to high temperatures during the months of May and June.
The other reasons for the disaster included non-execution of the CAT (Catchment Area Treatment) plan, deforestation and uncontrolled movement of AC tourist vehicles in the region, he said.