Environmental Issues of Reservoirs
For
Multiple Purposes
R.S.T.Sai R.K.Vishnoi
Chairman & Managing Director Dy General Manager
Tehri Hydro Development Corporation Ltd
Pragatipuram, Rishikesh (Uttarakhand)
India – 249 201
Abstract
Controversy surrounding the large reservoir projects has always been over environmental and social issues. We are living in the world of technological revolution today and every hydro power developer of the world carries the responsibility to look into the environmental issues due to developmental activities being performed by them. But at the same time, in order to spur a sustainable economic growth, hydroelectric projects must be supported and assigned the top priority. The models of sustainability can only be achieved, if today’s generation is conscious towards the rights of the future generation to come. All developmental activities such as the one like construction of reservoir projects of multiple purposes, has its positive as well as negative impacts but; proper planning & proficiency of the projects can mitigate the negative impacts during implementation of the projects and bring about the overall prosperity for the society, in particular, the water availability to those in need.
An environmental management system should allow for effective management of the range of environmental impact by the hydropower development. The associated monitoring programs and environmental plans should ensure a program of continuous improvement in environmental management over the life of the project. Comprehensive legislation on environmental issues is available and based on this legislation, there is well laid down principles and guidelines.
Today’s water vision provides efficient use of country’s water resources to match the growing demands. Therefore, an initiative to encourage hydro power development is to be taken so that the benefits of hydro power are closely integrated with international policies on environmental aspects. Tehri Dam Project, the highest earth and rock-filled dam in Asia, is one such example, which has been executed for all-round social and economical development in the Ganga basin ensuring negligible damage to the surrounding environment. A host of preventive and protective measures have been taken while developing the Tehri Dam Project so as to make it a complete sustainable development. The paper presents the relevant aspects of environmental issues and also the account of the environmental measures taken for 260.5m high earth and rockfill dam in India.