1000 MW Karcham Wangtoo Hydroelectric Project, Himachal Pradesh, India.
1000 MW Karcham Wangtoo

Client
Jaypee Karcham Hydro Corporation Limited (JKHCL), a subsidiary of Jaiprakash Associates Limited

General Description
Karcham Wangtoo Hydroelectric Project is envisaged as run-of-the-river development on River Satluj. The project will utilise the head available between the tail waters of Baspa Hydroelectric. Project Stage-II and head waters of Nathpa-Jhakri Hydroelectric Project.

Location
The project’s reach is between Karcham and Wangtoo villages in Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh State of India, just upstream of Nathpa-Jhakri Hydroelectric Project presently under construction. Nearest broad gauge railway station is Kalka under Northern Railway. The nearest airport to the project site is Shimla, which is 210 km from Karcham Wangtoo site. Airport is connected to Project site by paved road. Landslides are expected in monsoon, which blocks the road temporarily.

Scope of Works
The project envisages a concrete gravity dam about 43 m high above the river bed (approx. 98 m high above the deepest foundation level). The dam will have 6 sluice spillway bays of size 9m (W) x 9m(H) . The other main component of the Project are: 10.48 m diameter, 17.2 km long head race tunnel, 4.75m dia. 4 nos. pressure shafts, an underground power-house with 4 x 250 MW installed capacity, transformer hall and 909 m long 10.48 m dia tail race tunnel. The diversion of river is envisaged by construction of a Diversion tunnel.

Nature of Contract
Own Project on Build-Own-Operate (BOO) basis.

Salient Features
RIVER DIVERSION WORKS
Diversion Tunnel
Dia 10.5m
Length 456m
Coffer Dams
Type Rock fill with impervious core
Upstream 20.5m high
Downstream 8.5m high
DIVERSION DAM
Type Concrete Gravity
Height from deepest foundation level 98 m
Total length at top 177.8 m
Live storage capacity 544.97 Ha-m
MAIN SPILLWAY (SLUICES)
No. of bays 6
Size of each sluice 9m (W) x 9m (H)
Size of each gate 9m (W) x 9.25m (H)
Type of gates Radial Gates (top sealing type)
AUXILIARY SPILLWAY
No of bays 1 no., 8 m wide
Size of each gate 8m (W) x 7.35m (H)
Size of each gate 6.00m (W) x 5.25m (H)
Size of intake tunnels 6.0m modified Horse Shoe shaped
SEDIMENTATION CHAMBERS
Particle size to be excluded + 0.2 mm
Width of each chamber 16.0m
Depth of each chamber 28.0m
Length of each chamber 505m
LINK TUNNELS
Size Four individual link tunnels of 6.0m dia
Length of each tunnel Outer link tunnels - 125.5m, Inner link tunnels - 65.5m
Gates at start of link tunnels 4 nos.
Size 6.0m (W) x 6.0m (H)
FLUSHING CONDUITS
Number 4
Size 2.75m dia circular
Lengths 300m, 330m, 370m and 405m
HEADRACE TUNNEL
Size & Type 10.48m dia circular
Length 17.2 km
Slope 1:150
SURGE SHAFT
Type Restricted Orifice
Diameter 16m/ 27m
Top Open to Sky
PRESSURE SHAFTS
No. and type 4 nos. steel lined
Diameter 4.75 m
Length of each penstock 290.50 m
VALVE CHAMBER
Location Downstream of Surge shaft
Size of chamber 95x10x22 m (LxBxH)
Type of valves Butterfly valves
Diameter of each valve 4750mm
E.O.T. Crane 1 x 65/5 t
POWER STATION COMPLEX
POWER HOUSE / TRANSFORMER CAVITY
Type Underground
Installed capacity 1000 MW (4x250 MW)
Size of machine hall 143 m (L) x 21 m (W) x 49 m (H)
Size of transformer hall 143 m (L) x 15.5 m (W) x 25 m (H)
Average gross head 298.73m
Net head at 417 cumec tunnel Discharge 275.93m
Length of cable tunnel 528.71m
COLLECTION GALLERY CUM D/s SURGE CHAMBER
Size 220m (L) x 16m (W) x 42.5m (H)
TAIL RACE TUNNEL
Size & Type 10.48m dia Circular shape
Length 909m
POWER GENERATION  
Installed capacity 1000 MW
Annual generation 90% dependable year
4559.77 GWH

Installed Capacity
1000 MW (4 x 250 MW Each)

Power Generation
The Project on completion will generate 4560 million Units in a 90% dependable year.


Key dates pertaining to the Project  
MOU Signing with GOHP August, 1993
In-Principal Clearance by CEA March, 1996
Implementation Agreement November, 1999
Addendum to Implementation Agreement May, 2001
Environment & Forest Clearance November, 2002
Techno-Economic Clearance March, 2003

Present Status of Works

  • Himachal Pradesh Govt. has already approved the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the project
  • After the scrutiny of DPR in detail at the Government of India level by CWC and CEA, the Techno Economic Clearance for the project has been accorded by CEA in March 2003.
  • Construction Works have commenced and will be completed by year 2010.
Total Cost on Completion
Rs. 56000 Million