MULTILEVEL OPTIMIZATION OF A WATER RESOURCES SYSTEM

Abstract

Reservoirs are needed for the development of the water resources and to fulfill various water needs of a region, which requires planning of various aspects, such as, sizing of reservoirs and hydro plant capacities, determination of amount of annual water use targets (e.g., water supply, irrigation, hydropower, etc.). Inter-basin or intra-basin water transfers (exports) also play an important role in the development of water scarce areas. The planning, sequencing, operation and scheduling etc. of these systems become .a formidable task for decision makers due to possibilities of a large number of feasible alternative strategies, which involve huge cost and time factor. Recognizing most of the above mentioned aspects of a water resources system, the integrated planning and operation of the proposed Pamba-Achankovil-Vaippar link diversion system (PAV system) has been considered for the present study. The system is located in the southern part of India, it has three storage reservoirs, two tunnels, irrigation canal- system and a few hydropower generating units (see the figure on page ii). The Punnamedu reservoir is located at a higher elevation on the river Pamba Kal Ar in the Pamba river basin of the Kerala state, which serves a part/full of the downstream mandatory water demands and also transfers (intra-basin export) surplus water to another reservoir, i.e., the Achankovil Kal Ar reservoir. The Achankovil Kal Ar reservoir is located on the Achankovil Kal Ar river in the Achankovil river basin of the Kerala state, and transfers water (inter-basin export) for irrigation purposes through a tunnel which delivers water to the main irrigation canal, from where the irrigation water is distributed To sea Tel Achankovil Inflow water reservoir PH-3 to the command area of the Vaippar river basin in the Tamilnadu state. There are 4 small hydropower units on the canal..