• The Himalaya are a major water source for much of South Asia.
• Most countries in the region, including India, China, Nepal, Bhutan, and Pakistan, have built or are planning to build hydropower projects in the Himalaya.
• For example:
• Nepal: Arun III Hydroelectric Project and the West Seti Hydroelectric Project
• Bhutan: Chukha Hydropower Project and the Tala Hydropower Project.
• However, in recent times the region witnessed catastrophic events like earthquakes, landslides, flood etc.

Hydropower Project

• The source of hydro power is water. Hydro power plants are usually located on or near a water source.
• This is achieved by converting the gravitational potential or kinetic energy of a water source to produce power.
• The volume of the water flow and the change in elevation or ‘fall’, and often referred to as ‘head’—from one point to another determine the amount of available energy in moving water.
• The greater the water flow and the higher the head, the more electricity a hydropower plant can produce.
• It is an attractive alternative to fossil fuels as it does not directly produce carbon dioxide or other atmospheric pollutants.

Indian Hydropower projects on the Himalaya

• Sawra-Kuddu Hydro Power Project:
• State: Himachal Pradesh
• Capacity: 386 million units of electricity per annum
• River: Pabbar in Shimla
• First such dam in Asia in the shape of a piano.
• Luhri Stage- I HEP project:
• State: Himachal Pradesh
• Capacity: 210 MW
• River: Satluj
• Dhaulasidh Hydro Power Project:
• State: Himachal Pradesh
• Capacity: 66 MW
• River: Beas
• Renukaji Dam project:
• State: Himachal Pradesh
• Capacity: 40MW
• River: Giri
• Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project
• State: Arunachal Pradesh
• Capacity: 2000 MW (8x250 MW)
• Teesta Low Dam Hydroelectric Project
• State: Sikkim
• Capacity: 160 MW (4x40 MW)

Impact of hydropower projects in Himalaya

• Geological impacts: Triggering of landslides/slope failures leading to damage of roads, farms houses.
• 97.42% of the total geographical area of Himachal Pradesh is prone to landslides.
• Four hydropower projects in the Himalayan region are at risk from landslides triggered by earthquakes and tremors.
• Hydrogeological impacts: Drying of springs and underground water sources
• Muck Dumping: Along rivers leading to increasing siltation, in forests and pastures
• Safety negligence leading to accidents
• Impact on local environment: Can disrupt the flow of rivers, leading to changes in water temperature and chemistry.
• Impact on marine fauna: Disrupt migration patterns of fish and impact local wildlife, particularly if the dam’s construction leads to habitat loss.
• Impact on community: Can displace local communities, affecting their livelihoods and cultural heritage.

Micro hydro system: An alternative to hydropower

• It is a small-scale hydroelectric power generation system that typically generates up to 100 kilowatts (kW) of electricity.
• It uses the energy of falling water to turn a turbine, which, in turn, generates electricity.
• This system can be used for various applications, including powering homes, businesses, and small communities.
• Typically, less expensive to build and maintain than large hydroelectric dams and have a smaller environmental footprint.
• Located even in inaccessible areas where it is difficult to transmit electricity from larger power stations.
• They can provide a reliable source of energy to communities that are not connected to the grid.

Conventional facilities

1. Run-of-river system:

• It uses the natural flow of water in a stream or river to generate electricity.
• Components:
• Water conveyance: channel, pipeline, or pressurized pipeline (penstock) that delivers the water
• Turbine, pump, or waterwheel: Transforms the energy of flowing water into rotational energy
• Alternator or generator: Transforms the rotational energy into electricity
• Regulator: Controls the generator
• Wiring: Delivers the electricity

2. Pumped Storage systems

• It is a system where water accumulates in reservoirs created by dams on streams and rivers and is released through hydro turbines as needed to generate electricity.

The need of the hour is a pause on hydropower in the Himalayas in order to stop further devastation. There needs to be a complete stop to subsidies to the hydropower sector based on the ‘green’ tagging.