Hydropower project in Kullu nears completion, to mitigate flood risks

The risk of floods in the Parbati river, from Barshaini in the Manikaran valley to Bhuntar, will be considerably reduced after the NHPC commences the operations of the 800-MW Parbati Hydro Electric Project–II (PHEP-II) in Kullu district. Water from the Parbati will be diverted through a six-metre wide and 32-km long head race tunnel (HRT) from Barshaini in the Manikaran valley to Siund in the Sainj valley.

Once a substantial portion of the river water is redirected, the flow through the 40-km stretch between Barshaini and Bhuntar is expected to diminish. Known for its ferocity and flood-related damage, the Parbati, originating from Mantalai, will undergo controlled redirection to Sainj via a dam at Barshaini, significantly mitigating the flood threat in the region.

Efforts to finalise the project have accelerated and senior NHPC officials are closely monitoring its progress. While the Parbati will be linked to the Gadsa and Sainj rivers through the HRT for electricity generation, additional sources, including nearby rivers and streams, are being incorporated to meet the powerhouse’s capacity needs. The project will also enhance power generation in the operational 520-MW PHEP-III.

According to sources, the NHPC is considering inviting Prime Minister Narendra Modi to inaugurate the project. Executive Director, PHEP-II, Nirmal Singh says that the target is to complete the construction work by March and preparations underway to dedicate it to the nation shortly thereafter.

The project will be completed about two-and-a-half decades after former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had laid its foundation stone in 1999 and the construction work began in 2001. The authorities claim that despite delays, the cost per unit of generation has not increased significantly.

The construction work, originally slated for completion in 2009, faced multiple delays, causing the project to fall behind schedule. The target completion date was later revised from 2007 to 2014 after hills in Siund cracked. Further setbacks occurred when the tunnel boring machine was stuck in debris due to slush ingress in the HRT, halting the work for four years. The boring of the HRT was finally completed in October 2023.

Despite setbacks, the project management is confident that the PHEP-II will be completed by March and is likely to be formally inaugurated in April. The Union Energy Ministry has also issued directives the NHPC to expedite the completion work.

Vajpayee laid stone in 1999

• The project will involve a controlled redirection of the Parbati river’s flow, which is known for causing flood-related damage, to the Sainj Valley via a tunnel
• Besides flood mitigation, the project will also enhance power generation in the 520-MW PHEP-III
• Initially scheduled for completion in 2009, the project faced delays, including issues like hills cracking in Siund and the tunnel boring machine getting stuck, but is now expected to be finished in this month
• Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had laid the foundation stone of the project in 1999 and it is under construction since 2001