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Study calls for a river basin-wise approach

NEW DELHI: “Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand have a major role in delivering India’s ambitious national hydropower programme of 50,000 MW by 2012, and private participation is critical to meet this target both in terms of investment and resources,” says a World Bank study.

Currently there are 16 projects on the Alaknanda river in Uttarakhand and 19 projects either operating, under construction or under development by public and private developers on the Sutlej river in Himachal Pradesh.

The World Bank is financing the Rampur hydropower project in Himachal and has been asked to finance the Vishnugad Pipalkoti project in Uttarakhand.

The study, commissioned by the States in January 2007, has recommended a basin-wise approach — in Sutlej and Alaknanda river basins — which will optimise energy production and minimise environmental and social impacts. This is as opposed to project-wise approach. The study was carried out by Australia-based Hydro Tasmania consultants for the World Bank. Some of the key recommendations are upstream storage, benefit sharing between different stakeholders and having a plan for Catchment Area Treatment. This would involve collaboration among governments and the private/public developers to create uniform and available data for yield assessment. It would also mean adopting standardised methods and use of the model to maximise energy output.

It suggests benefit sharing in which the States should consider a mechanism to dedicate a portion of the 12 per cent “free power” royalty into a targeted fund for social and economic development activities in the host regions with involvement of “community leaders.”

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