Kopili Hydro Electric Project

Kopili Hydro Electric Project is a 275 megawatts (369,000 hp), hydroelectric power project on the Kopili river and its tributary, Umrong stream. It is located in Dima Hasao district of Assam state in India.[1] The project is developed and operated by North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited. It is an important project since the indian State of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura benefit from this project.

Khandong Dam
The Khandong dam
Location in Assam
Official nameKopili Hydro Electric Project
LocationAssam, India
Coordinates25°31′43″N 92°37′58″E
PurposePower
Opening date1984
Owner(s)Government of India
Dam and spillways
Type of damConcrete Gravity
ImpoundsKopili River
Height66 metres (217 ft)
Length243 metres (797 ft)
Spillway capacity15417 m³/s
Reservoir
CreatesKopili Reservoir
Total capacity166800
Surface area13.36 square kilometres (5.16 sq mi)
Khandong Power House
Coordinates25°31′01″N 92°39′58″E
Operator(s)NEEPCO
Commission date8 March 1984
Turbines3×25 MW
Installed capacity75 MW
Annual generation363.9 MU
Website
NEEPCO
Umrong Dam
View of Umrong Reservoir from Umrangso
Official nameKopili Hydro Electric Project
Coordinates25°31′43″N 92°42′45″E
PurposePower
Opening date1988
Dam and spillways
Type of damConcrete Gravity
ImpoundsUmrang river
Height30 metres (98 ft)
Length143 metres (469 ft)
Spillway typeOgee Radial
Spillway capacity554.7 m³/s
Reservoir
CreatesUmrong Reservoir
Total capacity175000
Surface area16 square kilometres (6.2 sq mi)
Kopili Power House
Coordinates25.586020°N 92.723019°E / 25.586020; 92.723019
Operator(s)NEEPCO
Commission date4 July 1988
Turbines4×50 MW
Installed capacity200 MW

Overview

The Khandong dam impounds Kopili river and Umrong dam impounds Umrong river creating Kopili reservoir and umrong reservoir. Kopili reservoir partially falls in Meghalaya state as Kopili river forms geographical boundary between Assam and Meghalaya in this region. Water from Kopili reservoir is fed to Khandong power station, releasing water into Umrong reservoir. Water from Umrong reservoir is diverted via tunnels to Kopili power station on the bank of Kopili river. Tail race waters of Kopili power house are released back into the Kopili river.[1] Although this project is not classified as such, its design is very similar to run-of-the-river power projects.

Kopili Hydro Electric Project

Power plants

Khandong I & II

The Khandong power house stage-I and stage-II are located between two reservoirs, near Umrong reservoir, in geographical location 25.5168°N 92.6660°E / 25.5168; 92.6660 and Khandong dam is located at 25.5286°N 92.6327°E / 25.5286; 92.6327. Khandong Stage-I powerhouse has 2x25 MW Francis type turbines, generating 50 MW power at peak. It is connected to Kopili reservoir via 4.5 m diameter, 2852 m long concrete-lined head race tunnel. First and second units of stage-I were commissioned on 8 March and 3 May 1984 respectively. Khandong stage II powerhouse is located close to stage-I power station. It has 1x25 MW turbine, connected via 480-m-long water conductor system, which was provisioned for at the time of stage-I construction. Third turbine was commissioned on 26 July 2004.[1][2]

Kopili I & II

The Kopili power house stage-I and stage-II are located on the right bank of Kopili river in geographical location 25.586°N 92.723°E / 25.586; 92.723. The related Umrong dam, completed in 1988, is located at 25.5284°N 92.7126°E / 25.5284; 92.7126. Khandong Stage-I and II powerhouse is installed with 4x50 MW Francis type turbines, generating 200 MW power at peak. It is connected to Umrong reservoir via 4.6 m diameter, 5.5-km-long concrete-lined head race tunnel. The first unit of stage-I was commissioned on 4 July 1988.[2]

Lower Kopili HEP

Because of contamination of Kopili river waters, the prospect of Lower Kopili Hydro Electric Project downstream of Kopili powerhouse has met with hurdles for environmental clearances and financial funding of the project.The 120 (MW) power project will be funded by the Asian Development Bank.[3][4]

Environment issue

This hydroelectric project has suffered some serious damage due to contamination of Kopili river with acid mine discharge from open cast coal mines and rat hole mining in Meghalaya.[5][6][7]

Incident

The Hydro project site was submerged and flooded following pipeline burst on 7 October 2019. 4 people has since been reported missing in the overflowing project site. The brust happened on old pipe, which was repaired the previous year.[8][9]

See also

References
  1. "Kopili Hydro Electric Project". Water Resources Information System of India. Archived from the original on 20 February 2019. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
  2. "National Register of Large Dams (NRLD) - India" (PDF). Retrieved 21 February 2019.
  3. "Lower Kopili clearance on hold". The Telegraph India. 31 August 2017. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
  4. "Environmental Assessment for Lower Kopili Hydropower Project" (PDF). Asian Development Bank. April 2018. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
  5. "Two Kopili power units shut down - Mining in Jaintia Hills affects machines". The Telegraph India. 20 June 2013. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
  6. "Renovation & Modernisation of Kopili Hydro Electric Plant" (PDF). Retrieved 21 February 2019.
  7. "Concern over contamination of Kopili water". The Assam Tribune online. 20 June 2012. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
  8. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/assam-dam-disaster-ruptured-pipeline-was-repaired-a-year-ago/article29629623.ece
  9. https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/four-days-on-hope-fades-for-families-of-those-trapped-in-assam-s-kopili-hydel-project/story-bQNQWAuewpMdVWTUqoWTiP.html
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