HYDROPOWER GENERATION – IMPACT ON ENVIRONMENT

MITIGATING IMPACTS OF MUCK DISPOSAL: MUCK MANAGEMENT GOOD PRACTICES IN MALANA II HEP

BY

JAYCHANDRA KHANDELWAL

D SURYA PRAKASH

SUNITA JASWAL

• Hydropower most reliable renewable energy having positive as well as adverse impacts• Construction of Hydropower project generates huge amount of muck from different

structural units viz., Diversion tunnel, Dam, Intakes, Head race tunnels etc.,

Faulty practices and improper muck management:o Deteriorate the landscapeo The muck can fall into the river and contaminate its waterso Augment the sediment load in the stream causing severe impact to the biotic

components in the aquatic ecosystemo Cause sediment deposition, siltation etc.,

Muck can be managed by:• Proper implementation of mitigative measures through execution of Environment

Management Plan• Preparing Comprehensive and realistic muck disposal plan during planning phase

of the project• Proper Implementation of the muck disposal plan during entire construction

period

INTRODUCTION

 ABOUT THE PROJECT The Malana-II (100 MW) HEPoA Run-of- the River (ROR) SchemeoOn Malana Khad, a tributary of Parbati River in Beas basin, Kullu District, Himachal Pradesh oEnvisages construction of a 45 m high Concrete Gravity Dam above river bed leveloLocated between Latitude 32°05’06” N & 32°02’15” N and Longitude 77°16’51”E & 77°15’26” EoDam site located in Malana Valley at EL± 2500moUnderground Power House on left bank of Malana Khad at EL± 1910 m

STATUTORY CLEARANCES AND PRESENT STATUS•Environment Clearance- June 2005 • Forest Clearance -December 2005•Preliminary works commenced - January 2006• Major works commenced - July 2006 • Project commissioned and is in operation - July 2012

 

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

PROJECT LAYOUT

• The restoration of muck dumping site encompass engineering measures and biological measures.

• Sixteen (16) Muck Disposal Sites utilized for muck dumping as per EMP• Restoration of Muck Dumping sites has been done in three phases.

DESCRIPTION OF WORK

•First Phase- Base protection work in the form of Rubble Masonry/Masonry wall/Retaining walls

•Second Phase - a) Slope stabilization by Masonry Grids, Biomac-C + steel mesh.b) Top soiling with mixture of Soil, Manure & Vermi-compost for improving soil profile.

•Integrated restoration technique adopted for slope stabilization as per degree of slope:oFor Low Slope: Random Rubble Masonry Grids, Dry Masonry GridsoFor Moderate Slopes: Biomac-CoFor High Slope: Formation of the terrace and installation of Biomac-C + Steel

mesh after laying mixture of top soil and farm yard manure and vermin- compost

•Third Phase- biological measures i.e. grassing, tuft-plantation, shrubs plantation and tree saplings of local species in monsoon season. •Enrichment/gap plantation was made continuous in winter and monsoon season until the survival rate reaches to appreciable extent.

 

DESCRIPTION OF WORK

Muck Disposal Site No. 2

7

overview prior to restoration

Overview post restoration

Muck Disposal Site No. 1

Overview post restoration Overview prior restoration

Muck Disposal Site No. 2

8

Muck Disposal Site No. 3

overview prior restoration

Overview post restoration

Overview prior restoration

Overview post restoration

Formation of Grids Installation of Biomac-C & Wire mesh

9

Muck Disposal Site No. 7

Overview post restoration Overview post restorationOverview prior restoration

Muck Disposal Site No. 5

Muck dumping site No- 9

Overview prior restoration Stabilization by Jute meshInstallation of Biomac-C + Steel mesh

Overview post restoration

Muck dumping site No- 11

Overview prior restoration Overview post restorationOverview post restoration

Additional Muck dumping site No- 6

12

Overview prior restoration Overview post restorationOverview post restoration

Road side area

Additional Muck dumping site-5

WORDS OF APPRECIATION FROM THE HON’BLE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, SHIMLA •The Hon’ble High Court of Himachal Pradesh, Shimla has appreciated the mitigation measures adopted by the project for restoration of the muck dumping sites •Considered it as a model project for adopting the mitigation measures in other hydro electric projects. •The Hon’ble High Court opined:

• “The project is coming up at a place where there are sharp inclines on the mountain side, which were almost vertical despite this problem the project proponent has managed the dumping of the muck in a manner that the sites have already started looking green. We are of the view that this project can be a model project for other hydro electric projects especially with regard to the dumping of muck and for rejuvenating the land and afforesting the dumping sites”.

•The adverse impacts of hydro power projects can be mitigated by proper implementation of Environmental Management Plan•In Malana-II HEP the appropriate engineering and biological measures for muck dumping restored the Muck Dumping areas and ameliorated the adverse impacts predicted initially.• Hydro projects can be developed in sustainable manner by adopting suitable scientific methods

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

Thank You