Dry spell hits power generation in hydro power projects in Kangra
No rains and snow in Dhauldhar mountain ranges for the last two months has hit power generation in the power projects located in Kangra district. Low generation from hydro power projects in the area was indicative of steep decline in water flow in the rivers in the region.
Sources here said that the power generation from hydro power projects located in Kangra district was down to 15 per cent of the installed capacity which was lowest in the months of October and November.
As per the data collected from the authorities of Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Ltd, power generation from 66 MW Bassi hydro power plant in Kangra district was down to just 13 MW. In 6 MW Binwa hydro project generation was down to 1.5 MW, in 12 MW Baner hydro project generation was down to 1 MW, 12 MW Khauli hydro project down to 1 MW and 10.5 MW Gaj Hydro project down to 1.3 MW. The sources said that the micro hydel projects have been hit the hardest due to dry spell and decrease in water flow in river emanating from Dhauladhar mountain ranges in Kangra district.
SE Generation HPSEB (Ltd), Deeraj Dhiman when asked, said the overall power generation in Palampur region was down to 15 per cent of the installed capacity due to reduced inflows in rivers of Kangra region.
The reduced inflow in rivers of Kangra has established the fact that glaciers in Dhauladhar mountain ranges was receding at a fast pace due to which the rivers in the region were facing reduced water flow.
Reduced inflows in rivers, besides the hydro power projects, was hitting the farmers of Kangra region who are dependent for irrigation on them.
The study conducted by a group of scientists established that the number of glaciers in Dhauldhar mountain ranges has receded while the number of glacial lakes in the region has increased from a period ranging from 2000 to 2020. The study has been published in Journal of Indian society of remote sensing in March 2024.
The study, which was based on satellite imagery of Dhauladhar mountain range, has established that the glaciers in the region that were spread in an area of about 50.8 square km have reduced to 42.84 square km in from a period ranging from 2010 to 2020. The number of glacial lakes in Dhauladhar mountain range has increased from 36 in 2000 to 43 in 2020.
Scientists have said that increase in number of glacial lakes in Dhauladhar mountain ranges is indicative of fast melting glaciers in the region. Increased accumulation season temperature (winter time) is the primary cause for the reduction of glacier coverage. The increase in number of glacier lakes requires formulation of risk assessment strategy for future lake outbursts in the region, the scientists have concluded in the study.
The scientists in the study have also said that there is strong evidence of the presence of valley glaciers in the region that have now completely deglaciated because of climate change.
