HPSEB mulls hydropower projects along Beas river

KULLU: Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Limited HPSEB is exploring the possibility of setting up power projects along meandering reaches of various rivers in the state

Updated At : 06:00 AM Jan 20, 2016 IST

There is a shallow channel along the meandering reaches of the Beas river that becomes active during floods.

Abhinav Vashisht

Kullu, January 19

Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Limited (HPSEB) is exploring the possibility of setting up power projects along meandering reaches of various rivers in the state.

Deepak Chauhan, Deputy Chief Engineer (Projects), HPSEB, said various sites had been identified for the purpose, adding that the most suitable river was the Beas.

He said there was a shallow channel along the meandering reaches of the river that became active during floods.

Chauhan said the elevation difference in various meandering reaches could be exploited for the generation of power by activating the shallow channel when the water flow was normal.

Chauhan said: “As per the preliminary study, the capacity of the projects will be 20-25 mw.”

He said the concept once implemented should pave the way for the development of hydropower projects, particularly in short meander reaches, other potential locations in the state and elsewhere in the country. Chauhan said as per rough estimate, the total potential based on the concept would be around 300 mw in the state.

The official said 12 such sites had been identified in Kullu district and the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy had sanctioned Rs 1.20 crore for the preparation of a detailed project report (DPR). He said five other such projects had been proposed in Mandi, Kangra and Chamba districts.

Chauhan said such projects should not disturb the ecology of the region and help check floods.

He said the projects would also help develop lakes for exploring tourism.

Chauhan said the study for one such project near Raison in Kullu district was proposed and its findings would be help form such schemes in other reaches of the Beas river.

He said the Raison hydropower project had been proposed on a meandering reach of the Beas river at Raison village, about 8 km upstream from Kullu.

Chauhan said three turbines of 6 mw capacity would be needed for the 18 mw project. He said the cost of the project would be Rs 146.50 crore.

He said the Central Water Commission (CWC) had also given a go-ahead to the preparation of the DPR for the Raison project.