A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF PLANNING AND DESIGN ASPECTS OF SMALL HYDRO ELECTRIC PROTECTS IN HIMALAYAS

Abstract

Each and every hydropower project regardless small or big have unique in design and planning characteristics with vast design alternatives and site specific. Further considering wide scope of the subject, constrain of time is not permitted to go to the depth of each stage of planning and every element of the design aspects. Low head cannel base schemes which are very rare in the Himalayan territory are also discussed for relative merits. The Himalaya is the youngest mountain in the world and its strata are unstable and weak and its slope also prone to frequent landslide. During monsoon period Himalayas Rivers carry huge amount of sand, stone, cobbles and stems etc. Himalayan streams have more quartz which causes major damage to the turbine blades especially in case of Pelton wheel. Most of the parts of the Himalaya are under seismic zone-V which required additional safety measure in the design of components. Planning and Design of Small Hydro-Electric Projects on the Himalayan stream pose more critical and challenging technical issues and are substantial risks associate with this type of projects than large hydro-electric Projects In recent years, Govt of India has formulated a long term policy for encouraging development of small hydro electric projects. At present, more than 2000 prospective sites for small hydro electric projects with an installed capacity not greater than 25MW have been identified in the Himalayan states under UNDP/GEF Hilly hydro project. The Indian history of small hydropower is not a recent one. It classified and separated up to 25MW for administrative purpose. SHP has many advantages with few constrains in development