Water Resource Engineering-I Assignment-I
Water Resource Engineering-I Assignment-I
ASSIGNMENT-I
GADALE SAIKUMAR
1005-17-732014
BE (III/IV) SEMESTER-V
DEPT. OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
KOYNA HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT
HISTORY
In the early 20th century, there was a survey of the Koyna River as a potential hydro-
electric source. After the First World War, a hydro-electric project on the Koyna river
was investigated by the Tata Group. The 1928 financial crisis caused the project to be
shelved. After the independence of India, it was taken over by the Government of
Maharashtra. In 1951 Koyna Dam division started to look into the project. The project
was approved in 1953 and work commenced in early 1954. The second stage of the
project was made using a World Bank loan.
DESCRIPTION
The project is composed of four dams with the major contributors being the
Koyna Dam and Kolkewadi Dam. The water from Shivasagar reservoir was formed by the
Koyna Dam and is used in the 1st, 2nd and 4th stages. This water is drawn from head
race tunnels situated below the reservoir. Then it travels through vertical pressure
shafts to the underground powerhouses. The discharged water from these stages is
collected and stored in Kolkewadi Dam situated near village of Alore. The water is drawn
from the penstocks of Kolkewadi Dam to an underground power station in the 3rd stage
and then discharged to the Arabian Sea.
The electricity generated in all the stages is delivered to the main electrical grid.
The project is run by the Maharashtra State Electricity Board.
Besides this dam foot powerhouse part of power plant also produces 40 MW
through two generating units of 20 MW each, totalling 1960 MW. Details of each stage
are given below.
Stage 1 and 2
The first stage of the project was approved in late 1953 and construction began
in early 1954. Initially a two-stage construction was conceived. But the total generation
capacity of the two stages was too large for load forecasts of that time. So a time lag of
more than 10 years was proposed between the two stages. Within two years thereafter,
it came to be noticed that the 10 years time tag between these two stages will not be
affordable and to cope up with the power requirements, the two stages should be
merged and both the stages should be constructed simultaneously. Hence, it was
accepted that the two stages have to be executed as one.
tail race water from these stages then flows through a channel and joins the Arabian Sea
near Chiplun. The installed generating capacity of this stage is 320 MW.
Stage 4
Later in the 1980s, the electricity demand of the Maharashtra increased
tremendously resulting in inadequate power supply. The Planning Commission accorded
approval to Stage IV with installation capacity of 4 × 250 MW. Thus, one more stage
called Stage IV was added to power system of Stages I and II, thus converting the Koyna
Power Station into a peaking power station complex with load factor of about 18.7%.
This scheme also draws water from the existing Shivasagar reservoir same as Stages I
and II.
A nonconventional intake system was created by piercing the lake from the
bottom by blasting the rock plug using dynamite. [5] This double lake tapping process
was the first of its kind in Asia. [6] The water in head race tunnel is directly drawn from
the reservoir and delivered to the head surge tank. Then four pressure shafts take the
water downward vertically. The four huge Francis turbine units of 250 MW each
generate electricity and tail race water is taken into the Kolkewadi Dam reservoir
through tail race tunnel. A revolutionary gas insulated switchgear system is used in the
underground powerhouse of this stage.
The installed capacity of this stage alone is 1000 MW. This stage is mostly used to
cater for the peak hour demands of the electric grid.
FEATURES
This is the largest completed hydroelectric project in India.
The water used for generation of electricity joins the Arabian Sea near Chiplun
while the water which discharges through the spillways of the dam in monsoon
season joins the Bay of Bengal through the Krishna River.
The process of double lake tapping was the first of its kind in Asia.
All the components of the project such as powerhouses, head race and tail race
tunnels, pressure shafts are constructed underground. The modern gas insulated
switchgear system is used in 4th stage of the project.
FUTURE PLANS
To utilise more water from the Shivasagar reservoir, another dam foot
powerhouse is being constructed on the left bank of the dam. This powerhouse will
employ a pumped storage scheme. Also lake tapping is proposed for the intake system
TOURISM
The impounded water of the Koyna Dam though has submerged a significant
amount of rain forest of the Western Ghats, it has helped a lot to the surrounding forest
by supplying water all round the year. Hence a wide biodiversity of plants and animals is
observed in the evergreen forest surrounding the reservoir area.
WILD LIFE SANTUARY
Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary has dense forests with three major sections, Vasota,
Maharkhor and Indavli Met, and the sanctuary is endowed with natural protective
boundaries – Shivasagar Lake on one side, and the slopes of the Western Ghats on both
the sides. This protective cover has enabled the emergence of a diverse variety of flora
and fauna in the sanctuary. Some of the endangered species of trees found in the
sanctuary are Dhup (Boswellia serrata), Euphorbia longan, and Elaeocarpus spp., apart
from many other species of trees. The sanctuary has a diverse variety of fauna including
tigers and panthers; gaurs and sambars; barking and mouse deer; pythons and cobras;
common langurs and Indian giant squirrels. Many species of birds are found in the
sanctuary including brown capped woodpecker; Asian fairy bluebird; and crested
goshawk. Another attraction of the sanctuary is Vasota Fort which lies deep in the forest
and is located at a height of 1,120 m (3,675 ft) above sea level. The legend states that
the fort was constructed by Malwa king Raja Bhoja in 1170.
park is a major attraction for tourists. An upstream side view of dam is visible from this
garden. There is an auditorium named 'Yashogatha' (meaning: story of success) which
reviles a small element of the tremendous efforts taken by the engineers and workers
associated with project. It is one of the most beauty in satara. & success of india.
NEHRU MEMORIAL PARK
When the project work was almost nearing completion, on 10 April 1960, the
then Prime Minister of India Pdt. Jawaharlal Nehru visited Koyna Project. To
commemorate this event a tablow was unveiled at his gracious hands on the right flank
hillock of Koyna Dam. This project came up with an idea of immortalising this place and
this event by constructing a beautiful park and naming it as "Nehru Memorial Park". This
park is a major attraction for tourists. An upstream side view of dam is visible from this
garden. There is an auditorium named 'Yashogatha' (meaning: story of success) which
reviles a small element of the tremendous efforts taken by the engineers and workers
associated with project. It is one of the most beauty in satara. & success of india.
OZORDO FALLS
Due to the large rainfall in the hilly region surrounding the reservoir, some beautiful falls
are generated in the monsoon season. The largest of them is the Ozarda falls near
Navaja village 10 km from Koyna. This is also a major attraction for tourists visiting in
monsoon season.