By Arun Pratap Singh
Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 21 Jan: Construction of the 12 MW capacity Tankul Small Hydropower project is set to begin shortly in the border region of Dharchula in Pithoragarh district. In a significant move, the Central Government has granted the necessary land transfer approval for this significant project, which is expected to bolster power supply not only for local areas but also for the neighbouring country of Nepal.
Very importantly, this project is based on run-of-the-river technology, which eliminates the need for a large dam. The natural flow of the river and the force of gravity will be utilised for electricity generation in this project. According to experts, this design ensures that there will be no adverse impact on the environment and the geographical structure of the region will remain secure.
Following the green signal from the Centre, the board of Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (UJVNL) has granted financial approval for the tender process related to the project’s design, drawings, and associated works. The key technical features of the project include the establishment of the power house in Mangti village. A weir will be constructed at Bangbang, from where the water will be regulated and transported to the power house through a pipeline. The facility will be equipped with four units of double jet Pelton turbines, each with a capacity of 3 MW. The total capacity will remain at 12 MW, generating approximately 69.66 million units of electricity annually. The estimated cost of the project is Rs 146.3291 crores.
It may be recalled that several other run-of-the-river projects are already operational or proposed in Uttarakhand, such as Dunav in Pauri, Pilangad in Uttarkashi, Urgam in Chamoli, Galogi in Mussoorie (Dehradun), Kaliganga I and II in Rudraprayag, Madmaheshwar in Rudraprayag, and Suringgad in Munsyari, Pithoragarh. Currently, the largest project in Pithoragarh district is the Dhauliganga Hydroelectric Project, which has a capacity of 280 MW. It is operated by NHPC and has been functional since 2005. Additionally, smaller projects like Suringgad-II with a capacity of approximately 5 MW are also being managed by UJVNL.
Other significant proposed projects in the region include the Sirkari Bhyol Rupsiabagar project on the Goriganga river with a capacity of 120 MW and the Sela-Urthing project on the Dhauliganga with a capacity of 114 MW, both of which are currently undergoing the approval and preparation process. The Tankul project is expected to provide a new impetus to local development and increase energy availability in the frontier regions without disturbing the environmental balance.
