Vulnerability assessment of the Satluj catchment for sustainable development of hydroelectric projects in the northwestern Himalaya

Hydropower if scientifically developed is considered to be one of the clean and non-polluted renewable energy sources.But its impacts always exist on physical and social environment of the area.The present study was conducted in the River Satluj basin which is well known for its hydropower potential.The main objective of the study was to understand the vulnerability of the Satluj basin and to develop a strategy for the development of hydropower projects.This basin has been facing many problems relating to construction of haphazard development of hydropower projects.This has led multi-hazards like landslides,floods,earthquakes,etc.Here,vulnerability assessment index was assessed quantitatively and qualitatively.Geographical Information System and people’s perception were used to study these aspects in the basin.The parameters considered for vulnerability assessment were slope,slope profile,relative relief,curvature,slope aspect,soil texture,lithology,river morphometry,precipitation,hydroelectric projects,land use and land cover,mass-movement,flood,geological elements and earthquake occurrences.The highest vulnerability was found in the middle zone,and finally on the basis of parameters analyzed;the hydropower’s development strategy was developed.

Socio-economic and Environmental Implications of the Hydroelectric Projects in Uttarakhand Himalaya, India

This paper deals with de the fiasco created by the Tehri Uttarakhand, India, particularly resettlement and rehabilitation tailed analysis of High Dam in in terms of of the local inhabitants. Aspects pertaining to the environmental issues are also discussed. Currently, the river valleys in Uttarakhand state of India are the targets of increasing hydroelectric projects. Virtually all rivers are being exploited for generating environmental friendly power. Having being learned the hard lesson from Tehri Dam, it has been decided to opt for such schemes in which comparatively little submergence hnd tempering with the fragile eco-systems is involved However, our observations suggest that even in such schemes if due care is not taken they may turn out to be a failure.

Engineering geological classification of the structural planes for hydroelectric projects in Emeishan Basalts

The scale and characteristics of rock mass are important indexes of the rock mass structural plane classification. This paper firstly analyzes the spatial distribution characteristics, the structural plane types （original structural plane, tectonic structural plane and hypergenic structural plane） and the associated features of the Emeishan basalts and then studies the classification schemes of the built hydropower structure planes of different rock areas （the east district, the central district and the west district） in the Emeishan basalt distribution area, Southwest China. Based on the analysis and comparison of the scale and the engineering geological characteristics of the typical structure planes in the basalt hydroelectric Stations, the types of structural planes are used in the first order classification. The secondary order classification is made by considering the impact factors of rock mass quality, e.g., the state of the structural planes, infilling, joint opening, extending length, the grade of weathering and strength. The engineering geological classification for Emeishan basalt is proposed. Because there are no evidences of a large structure presenting in study area, the first-order （Ⅰ） controlling structural planes do not appear in the classification, there only appear Ⅱ, Ⅲ, Ⅳ and Ⅴ grade structural planes influencing the rock-mass quality. According to the different rock-block types in bedding fault zone, the second-grade （Ⅱ） structural planes consisted of bedding fault zone is further classified into Ⅱ1, Ⅱ2 and Ⅱ3. The third-grade （Ⅲ） structural planes constructed by intraformational faulted zones are not subdivided. According to the different characteristics of intrusion, alteration and weathering unloading structural planes, the Ⅳ grade structure plane is divided into Ⅳ1, Ⅳ2 and Ⅳ3. According to the development characteristics of joints and fractures, the V grade structure plane is divided into fracture Ⅴ1 and columnar joint Ⅴ2. In all, the structural planes are classified into four groups with nine subsets. The research proposes the engineering geological classification of the structural plane for the hydropower project in the Emishan basalts, and the result of the study has a potential application in similar regions.

Impact of hydroelectric projects on river environment: Analysis of water quality changes in Ningxia Reach of Yellow River

In this paper, the relationship between hydroelectric projects and the river environment is analyzed. Recently, the large-scale regulation of runoff by large hydroelectric projects in the Ningxia Reach of the Yellow River has altered natural runoff processes, causing an increase in the probability of low discharge and an overall adjustment of riverbed evolution and river characteristics. During low-flow years, the combined effects of these two changes can weaken the self-purification capacity and reduce the water environmental capacity of the river. This is one of the main reasons for the recent decrease of water quality in the Ningxia Reach. This research shows that it is necessary to implement river training projects to maintain stable flow paths, not only for adjusting river regimes and for flood control, but also for increasing the self-purification capacity and the water environmental capacity of the river. Methods and proposals for coordinating the operation of hydroelectric projects with the protection of the river environment are presented in the interest of promoting sustainable development.

Assessment of Diversity, Distribution, Conservation Status and Preparation of Management Plan for Medicinal Plants in the Catchment Area of Parbati Hydroelectric Project Stage-Ⅲ in Northwestern Himalaya

The developmental activities, particularly the construction of hydroelectric projects are causing a great loss of biodiversity in the Indian Himalayan Region. The Himaehal Pradesh, a part of IHR is well known for the development of hydroelectric projects. The Parbati H.E. Project is amongst the major projects of the State. The different stages of the project are all causing loss of biodiversity of the area. Stage Ⅲ of the Parbati H.E. Project is a run of the river scheme on the Sainj River downstream of Power House of Parbati H.E. Project Stage Ⅱ. The project shall utilize regulated discharge of Parbati H.E. Project Stage Ⅱ and inflow of River Sainj for power generation, and has been contemplated as a peaking station operating in tandem with Stage Ⅱ. The present study has been undertaken to see the impact of hydroelectric project on the biodiversity, particularly on medicinal plants. A total of 104 species of medicinal plants, belonging to different life forms, i.e., trees （23 spp.）, shrubs （22 spp.）, herbs （57 spp.） and ferns （2 spp.） were recorded. The species have been analyzed and studied for their distribution, classification, altitudinal zones, part （s） used, indigenous uses, nativity, endemism and rarity.Different parts of these species, such as whole plants, roots （including rhizomes and tubers）, leaves, flowers, fruits, seeds, stems, barks, spikes, nuts and insect galls are used by the inhabitants for curing various diseases and ailments. 3o species are native to the Himalayan region, 9 species native to the Himalayan region and adjacent countries also and 65 species are non-natives. 9 species are near endemics. Considering the whole Himalaya as a biogeographie unit （sensu lato）, the near endemics are endemic to the Himalaya. Among these species, Zanthoxylum armature is categorized as Endangered and Valeriana wallichii as Vulnerable. Hedychium spicatum, Rhus javanica, Berberis lycium, Thalictrum foliolossum, Salvia lanata, Rubia cordifolia and Bergenia ligulata may be considered as threatened species due to their over exploitation for trade. 90 species are propagated by seeds, 8 species by seeds and rhizomes/roots/tubers, 4 species by seeds and cuttings, and 2 species by sori. A management plan for the cultivation and conservation of the medicinal plants in the dam submergence area, and the commercially viable medicinal plants with high value in the catchment area is suggested.

Study on engineering-hydrogeological problems of hydroelectric project

Engineering-hydrogeological problems arise from the interaction between engineering activities and geological environment, in which rock-soil mass and groundwater are especially important constituents. However, up-to-date research on them is relatively dispersive and simple due to their complexity and lack of comprehensive and systematic study methods. Starting from geological analysis of mechanism to geological model based on geological regularities, the paper predicts the tendency of geological evolvement and puts forward proper measures to solve problems. In this paper, elevated water-sensitive structure in rock-soil mass, which mainly causes engineering hydrogeological problems, and problems in hydropower is discussed based on unique construction in Chinese Western hydropower projects. Engineering hydrogeological problems are reservoir induced earthquakes leakage from reservoir bottom in karst, stability of high slope at reservoir banks, sliding of dam foundation and dam abutment, and confined water at key positions which are introduced and determined by using water-sensitive factors(or structure) according to special hydrogeological conditions.

Changes in Streamflow Regime Due to Anthropogenic Regulations in the Humid Tropical Western Ghats, Kerala State, India

Regulation of streamflow by a reservoir creates a flow regime much different from the preimpoundment period flow regime. Hydro-Electric Projects(HEPs) commissioned in the Western Ghat regions of the Kerala State, India during the last four decades caused considerable changes in the flow regimes of the rivers of the Kerala State in southwest India. In this paper, the Indicators of Hydrologic Alteration(IHA) approach proposed by Richter et al.(1996) is used to analyze flow regime changes in the Periyar and Muvattupuzha Rivers, due to the construction of the Idukki(1976), Idamalayar(1987) and Lower Periyar(1997) HEPs in the high ranges of the Western Ghats. Normal rainfall years(annual rainfall values within mean ± 0.75 standard deviation limits) are only considered in the analysis to focus on hydrologic alterations due to human activities. The mean hydrologic alteration in the Periyar River(deviation from the pre-development hydrologic indicator values) after commissioning of three HEPs is 35%. Inter-basin water transfer after power generation from the Idukki HEP resulted in a higher discharge in the adjacent Muvattupuzha River, leading to considerable changes in the hydroenvironment(mean hydrologic alterations varying between 57 to 63%). IHA parameters showing hydrologic alterations above the 67 th Percentile werefurther analyzed. For each of the pre-construction hydrologic parameters ± 1 standard deviation from the mean is set as the upper and lower management target limits. The values of each IHA parameter beyond these targets are considered as nonattainment. Considerable hydrologic alterations are observed, especially for low flows in both basins. Inter-basin transfer induced larger changes in flow parameters compared to intra-basin regulations. The study shows that under a proper water release and diversion scheme, the non-attainment of IHA parameters(values fall beyond the target limits) can be reduced. The findings of the study will be greatly beneficial to regional water management and restoration of an eco-environmental system in the humid tropical region.