HPPCL hydro projects quake resistant, says minister
December 20th, 2011 - 3:16 pm ICT by IANSNew Delhi, Dec 20 (IANS) State-run Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (HPPCL) has said its ongoing hydropower projects are quake resistant, not affecting the fragile hill ecology, according to Minister of State for Power K.C. Venugopal.
All the projects being constructed by the HPPCL in Himachal Pradesh are designed to withstand earthquakes of magnitudes expected in the seismic zone in which they fall, Venugopal said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha Monday.
“The HPPCL has informed that since construction activity is far from glaciers, small in size and very restricted in construction period, it cannot have any negative impact on glaciers,” he said.
“Moreover, since hydropower projects’ viability is dependent on glaciers, project construction would avoid any activity which may impact it adversely,” he said.
The HPPCL has clarified that none of the projects is destructive to rivers. Moreover, the entire Himalayan region with all its hydropower potential falls in seismic zone-IV and more severe zone-V, for which projects are designed suitably, the minister added.
“As informed by the HPPCL, no opposition is being faced from local populations for keeping their lands and rivers intact under the Himachal Pradesh Clean Energy Development Investment Programme (HPCEDIP), funded by Asian Development Bank”,” he added.
The HPPCL’s ongoing projects include the 100 MW Sainj in Kullu district, Sawra-Kuddu hydroelectric project (111 MW) in Shimla district, Stage I, II and III of Kashang project (195 MW) in Kinnaur district, and Shongtong-Karchham project (402 MW), also in Kinnaur.
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Tags: asian development bank, clean energy, construction activity, construction period, development investment, energy development, glaciers, himalayan region, hydro projects, hydroelectric project, hydropower projects, magnitudes, minister of state, mw, negative impact, ongoing projects, project construction, rajya sabha, seismic zone, viability