HYDROLOGICAL STUDIES OF KUMARADHARI RIVER IN NETRAVATHY BASIN

Abstract

Kumaradhari is an important tributary of the west flowing Netravathy river in Karnataka State originating in the high peaks of western ghats at an elevation of about 1500 mtrs and flows through Dakshina Kannada District and joins Arabian sea. The project consists of harnessing the Kumaradhari river waters for power generation by constructing a barrage across Kumaradhari river and a power house near Kunthur Perabe village in Uppinangadi taluk of Dakshina Kannada District. The project has been planned as a run-of — the river scheme, because of the constraints on the provision of large storage due to submersion and rehabilitation problems. The present study deals with the hydrological investigations, which include cachment rainfall analysis, yield studies estimation based on gauged data, obtaining rainfall-runoff correlations, derivation of flow duration curves, power studies and flood studies. The maximum, minimum and the average yields of the river are 8496 mcum, 3705 mcum and 5667 mcum respectively. It is seen from the power studies that an installed capacity of 30 mw, is found economically optimal. The average annual energy generation works out to 79 million units. This project also provides valuable peaking power to the grid.