It tells about SDG goals which we have to achieve by 2030

1. TAJ PALACE, NEW DELHI | 12 – 14 SEPTEMBER 2016
ISSUES AND CHALLENGES OF SUSTAINABLE HYDROPOWER
DEVELOPMENT IN THE INDIAN HIMALAYAN REGION
By
Sanchit S. Agarwal, Ph.D. Student
M.L. Kansal, JPSS Chair Professor
D. E. Rheinheimer, Ex. Fulbright-Nehru Fellow
Department of Water Resources Development and Management
Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee

2. TAJ PALACE, NEW DELHI | 12 – 14 SEPTEMBER 2016
Environmental Economic
Social
Sustainability
Bearable Equitable
Viable
• Development which meet the needs
of present without compromising
the ability of future generations to
meet their own needs.
• Three major domains of
Sustainability – Economic,
Environmental, and the Social
considerations.
Sustainable Development

3. TAJ PALACE, NEW DELHI | 12 – 14 SEPTEMBER 2016
Importance of Energy
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 – About 1000 kWh
Developed countries - 8,000-12,000 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
Source: Strategy for Providing 24 x 7 power supply, Forum of Regulators, December 2014

4. TAJ PALACE, NEW DELHI | 12 – 14 SEPTEMBER 2016
India’s Power Scenario
Source:
http://powermin.nic.in/power-sector-glance-all-
Growth of Electricity sector in India, CEA, Ministry of Power, GoI, April 2015
Executive Power Summary, CEA, Ministry of Power, GoI, March 2016, June 2016

5. TAJ PALACE, NEW DELHI | 12 – 14 SEPTEMBER 2016
Year 1947-48 62-63 65-66 79-80 89-90 99-00 09-10 10-11 11-12 12-13 13-14 14-15 June-16
Total (MW) 1362 5801 9027 28448 63636 97837 159398 173626 199877 223344 243029 267637 303118
Hydro (MW) 508 2936 4124 11384 18307 23857 37417 38428 40204 40942 42153 45071 47121
Hydro
( % of Total )
37 51 46 40 29 24 23 22 20 18 17 17 16
Source: CEA Hydro Review, 2014-15
B.K. Bhatt, Small hydro programme in India, ICHPSD-2015

6. TAJ PALACE, NEW DELHI | 12 – 14 SEPTEMBER 2016
Total Hydropower potential in India: 1,48,700MW ; Installed Capacity : 42848MW (29% of total)
Himalayan states include 79% of the total hydropower potential
* In West Bengal, only Darjeeling district lies in
Himalayan belt
Indian Himalayan
State
Hydropower
Potential
(MW)
Installed
Capacity
(MW)
Jammu & Kashmir 14146 2669
Himachal Pradesh 18820 8908
Uttarakhand 18175 3943
Sikkim 4286 679
*West Bengal 2841 1328
Assam 680 430
Meghalaya 2394 360
Arunachal Pradesh 50328 436
Nagaland 1574 53
Manipur 1784 81
Tripura 15 63
Mizoram 2196 34
Total 117239 18984 (16% of total)
Source: CEA Reports

7. TAJ PALACE, NEW DELHI | 12 – 14 SEPTEMBER 2016
Stages of Hydropower Development
Planning/Design
Construction
Operation

8. TAJ PALACE, NEW DELHI | 12 – 14 SEPTEMBER 2016
Economic
Technological
Planning/Design Stage
Objectives
Policy changes/
Political
Technology chosen at this point may become
outdated in future or may need to be upgraded
Involvement of multiple stakeholders
Changes in energy generation targets
Economic slowdown, change in value of currency
may alter economic targets/budgets of the project
Change in government leading to new targets,
Change in policies of existing government
New projects in neighbouring countries U/S or
D/S of existing projects
Soc / Env/ Econ
X X X
X
X
X

9. TAJ PALACE, NEW DELHI | 12 – 14 SEPTEMBER 2016
Administrative
Chance element
in recurring events
Planning/Design Stage
Public response
Exact timing of occurrence of floods, earthquakes
cannot be determined in advance
Initial analysis may support need of local
upliftment through project development,
however public maybe turn resistant towards the
project in course of time.
Delay in forest clearances, technical approvals,
environmental clearance
Source: Economics of Water Resources Planning, James L. Douglas and & Lee Robert R., 1971
Soc / Env/ Econ
X
X
X X

10. TAJ PALACE, NEW DELHI | 12 – 14 SEPTEMBER 2016
Social Uncertainties
• Rehabilitation & Resettlement
• Emotional loss of leaving hometown
• Lack of compensatory benefits
• Loss of places of cultural and religious importance
• Impact of dam building on local environment
Source: SANDRP

11. TAJ PALACE, NEW DELHI | 12 – 14 SEPTEMBER 2016
Hydrological
Environmental
Financial
Geological
Construction Stage
Uncertainty over rock quality, underlying strata
Groundwater effect
Increase in Interest during construction due to
prolonged construction period
Cash flow disruption, delay in payment to
contractor
Unprecedented air, water and noise pollution
Effect on water quality, soil salinity
Heavy Rainfall,
Floods
Cloudburst
Soc / Env/ Econ
X
X
X
X

12. TAJ PALACE, NEW DELHI | 12 – 14 SEPTEMBER 2016
Geological Risk
• Geological surprises in young Himalayan terrain.
• Alaknanda, Baglihar, Dulhasti, Subansiri Lower,Parvati-II and Sewa-II hydroelectric projects
delayed due to geologic surprises.
Source: Styron et. al. 2010, U.S. Geological Survey, 2015

13. TAJ PALACE, NEW DELHI | 12 – 14 SEPTEMBER 2016
99 MW Singoli Bhatwari, Kund 5 MW Motighat, Pithoragarh
400 MW
Vishnuprayag,
Alakananda,
Hydropower projects Damaged by Uttarakhand Flash Floods, 2013
Source: SANDRP, Circle of Blue:Water News

14. TAJ PALACE, NEW DELHI | 12 – 14 SEPTEMBER 2016
Law & Order
Socio-Legal
Construction Stage
Locational
Termination of ongoing contract,
Delay in award of new contract,
Delay in purchase of material and equipment
R& R issues
Clash between native people/workforce
Legal course by local people/NGOs
More delivery time in far off places
Route to remote locations more prone to accidents,
landslides in hilly areas
Need for provision of basic facilities like health
education, recreational to accommodate personnel
Administrative
Area prone to local agitations, curfew, terrorism
Soc / Env/ Econ
X X
X
X
X

15. TAJ PALACE, NEW DELHI | 12 – 14 SEPTEMBER 2016
Equipment performance
Operation Stage
Water Availability/
Climate Change
Sedimentation
Reduction in reservoir capacity due to
sediment deposit,
Damage to equipment
Unpredictable drought or heavy rainfall
conditions
Changing evaporation rates from reservoir
Faults in electro-mechanical equipment,
Effect of external grid faults
Soc / Env/ Econ
X
X
X

16. TAJ PALACE, NEW DELHI | 12 – 14 SEPTEMBER 2016
Sediment flow
• Himalayas, most susceptible region in terms of natural erosion
• 28-77 % of catchment area of river valley projects require priority treatment in the
Himalayas.
• 28-66 & sediment deposited in live storage of some reservoirs.
• Loss of reservoir capacity in some reservoirs in India ranging from 2 – 60 percent.
Source: SANDRP
330 MW Srinagar Hydro Project, Uttarakhand 280 MW Dhauliganga Hydro Project,
Uttarakhand

17. TAJ PALACE, NEW DELHI | 12 – 14 SEPTEMBER 2016
Operation Stage
Locational
Delay in replacement of equipment,
availability issues of skilled personnel in
remote areas
Upcoming projects
Power Evacuation
New project in U/S or D/S of existing projects
alters operating plans, water availability
Faults/damage to power transmission system
Soc / Env/ Econ
X
X X X
X

18. TAJ PALACE, NEW DELHI | 12 – 14 SEPTEMBER 2016
Concluding Remarks
 India has immense hydropower potential, especially in the Himalayan region. However
less than 30% has been utilised so far.
 Hydropower development in the Himalaya involves substantial challenges that must be
addressed for hydropower to contribute to sustainable development.
 Main challenges include:
 extreme geological and hydrologic risk
 social equity issues (social acceptance, resettlement & rehabilitation policies)
 financial constraints and uncertainties
 environmental damage
 statuary clearances (land, environment)
 political uncertainties
 Risk factors must be assessed in pre-planning stages by investors/decision makers to
decide on realistic estimates of levels of social, economic, and environmental
sustainability for new hydropower projects in the Indian Himalaya.

19. TAJ PALACE, NEW DELHI | 12 – 14 SEPTEMBER 2016
Acknowledgement
• Department of Water Resources Development and Management, Indian
Institute of Technology, Roorkee
• Fulbright-Nehru Postdoctoral Programme, administered by the U.S.-India
Education Foundation (USIEF)

20. TAJ PALACE, NEW DELHI | 12 – 14 SEPTEMBER 2016
THANK YOU
Contact: sanchitagarwal.22@gmail.com