Hydroelectric Projects in Geologically Sensitive Regions
Geography
- PYQs2
- Articles1
Background
Critical for understanding India's energy infrastructure development, environmental impact assessment, disaster management in vulnerable regions, and the interplay between development and ecology in the Himalayas.
Hydroelectric projects, vital for India's energy security, often face significant geological and environmental challenges, particularly in tectonically active and young mountain ranges like the Himalayas. These challenges include seismic activity, unstable rock formations, gas seepage, and the risk of landslides and tunnel collapses, necessitating rigorous geological surveys, risk assessment, and robust engineering solutions.
Facts & tables
- Himalayan Geological Context
- The Himalayan region is a Seismic Zone IV, characterized by young, fractured rock formations, including carbon-rich phyllite associated with trapped gases like methane.
- Common Geological Hazards
- Projects encounter shear zones, high-pressure water inflows, and tunnel collapses, requiring advanced engineering to mitigate risks.
- Methane Gas Risk
- Flammable gas, primarily methane, is a known hazard in tunnels, posing explosion risks if not properly monitored and ventilated.
- Regulatory Clearances
- Hydroelectric projects require initial Environmental Clearance and Forest Clearances, highlighting the environmental considerations.
| Type | Reference |
|---|---|
| Conceptual area | Environment & Ecology |
| Conceptual area | Infrastructure |
| Conceptual area | Disaster Management |
| Body | Role |
|---|---|
| National Hydroelectric Power Corporation Limited (NHPC) | Implements |
| Sikkim government | Investigates |
Prelims angle
Prelims angle: Factual recall
Prelims angle: Multi-statement analysis
- Himalayan hydropower faces seismic, geological, and gas-related risks.
- Teesta-VI project exemplifies challenges: fractured rock, methane, collapses.
- Requires robust engineering, environmental clearances, and risk assessment.
- Methane is a significant hazard in carbon-rich phyllite.
- Interplay of energy needs, environment, and disaster management.
| Year | Framing tags |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Multi-statement analysis, Terminology-based question |
| 2023 | Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis |
Timeline
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Environment & Ecology
Conceptual area
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Infrastructure
Conceptual area
-
Disaster Management
Conceptual area
-
Prelims 2023
Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis
-
Prelims 2024
Multi-statement analysis, Terminology-based question
-
NHPC’s own 2024 paper recorded gas fires in Teesta-VI tunnels before fatal blast
Hydroelectric projects in the Himalayas face unique geological hazards like seismic activity, unstable rock, and gas seepage, demanding advanced engineering and environmental safeguards to prevent disasters.
See also
No related topics linked yet.
Past papers
2023–2024 · 2 questions
In the news
NHPC’s own 2024 paper recorded gas fires in Teesta-VI tunnels before fatal blast
Hydroelectric projects in the Himalayas face unique geological hazards like seismic activity, unstable rock, and gas seepage, demanding advanced engineering and environmental safeguards to prevent disasters.
Try these PYQs
With reference to India's projects on connectivity, consider the following statements:
1. East-West Corridor under Golden Quadrilateral Project connects Dibrugarh and Surat.
2. Trilateral Highway connects Moreh in Manipur and Chiang Mai in Thailand via Myanmar.
3. Bangladesh-China- India-Myanmar Economic Corridor connects Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh with Kunming in China.
How many of the above statements are correct?
Statement 1 is incorrect: The East-West Corridor is a part of the National Highways Development Project (NHDP) in India, which aims to connect Silchar in Assam to Porbandar in Gujarat. It does not connect Dibrugarh in Assam and Surat in Gujarat. Statement 2 is incorrect: The Trilateral Highway is a connectivity project that aims to connect Moreh in Manipur, India, with Mae Sot in Thailand via Myanmar. It is an important infrastructure project to enhance trade, connectivity, and people-to-people ties among the three countries. Statement 3 is incorrect: The Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Economic Corridor (BCIM) is a proposed economic corridor that aims to connect Kunming in China with Kolkata in India, passing through Myanmar and Bangladesh. Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh is not directly connected to this corridor. Thus, none of the statements are correct
Consider the following airports:
1. Donyi Polo Airport
2. Kushinagar International Airport
3. Vijayawada International Airport
In the recent past, which of the above have been constructed as Greenfield projects?
* Donyi Polo Airport (Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh): This newly constructed airport was inaugurated in 2022. It was built on undeveloped land, making it a greenfield project. * Kushinagar International Airport (Uttar Pradesh): This airport was inaugurated in 2021. It was also built as a new entity on undeveloped land, qualifying as a greenfield project. * Vijayawada International Airport (Andhra Pradesh): This airport has existed for several decades. While it has undergone significant expansion and modernization, it wasn't built from scratch on undeveloped land. Therefore, it's not a greenfield project. Therefore, only Donyi Polo Airport and Kushinagar International Airport are greenfield projects.