(Feature Image: Heavy vehicles stuck in Machchhetar nulla near Kuther HEP Adit 3 tunnel in Bharmour tehsil of Chamba after August 25, 2023 cloud burst induced flash flood. Image Source: Screen shot of Himachali Vlogger Balwant Kapoor You Tube video)
In July and August 2023, two more hydro electric power (HEP) projects have faced cloud burst induced flash flood destruction in Himachal Pradesh. The first one is Kuther HEP in Chamba district and the second one is Pittkari HEP in Mandi district. The details of 2 HEPs (14 MW GreenKo HEP in Sutlej basin, Shimla and 66 MW Dhaulasiddh HEP in Beas basin, Hamirpur) earlier impacted by cloudbursts induced deluge in last week of June 2023 can be seen here.
Kuther HEP: The 240 MW HEP project is under construction on Ravi river in Bharmour tehsil of Chamba district. The project is being built by JSW Energy Limited upstream ofChamera III HEP and downstream of proposed Bajoli Holi HEP project. The project has been criticized for its environmental and social concerns and impacts by Himdhara Group. Some relevant information about the project can be seen at Environmental Justice Atlas. The plan is to complete the project by Sep 2024.
In the last week of July 2023, there have been two incidents of cloud burst induced flash flood in two days impacting the project. The first incident took place around 03:00 am on July 25, 2023 in Haranu forest area under Kandalu village of Chanhota panchayat. After the cloud burst the local streams swelled dangerously with debris and wood logs. A local person engaged in tree felling by the forest department was killed while trying to cross flooded Jua nullah.
The deluge then reached Kuther HEP Adit 3 site along Machhettar stream and damaged several vehicles including tipper, loader, dumper, ambulance and other machinery involved in project construction. The flash flood topped over Machhettar bridge blocking the Holi-Khadamukh road. It also washed away two foot-bridges and flooded some homes in Machhettar village. The administration confirmed about the cloud burst incident.
As per this report, the project vehicles helped in checking the flash flood otherwise there would have been more destruction in Machhhettar village. This post cloudburst video shows the impact of flash flood in and around Adit 3 site of the Kuthher HEP.
The second incident happened in Chanhota panchayat in the same area around 02:30 am on July 27, 2023 causing flash flood in Machhettar nullah which in turn washed away two shops, three rooms, a store and three water mills in Machhettar village apart from impacting Machhettar road bridge.
The villagers were so terrified by loud thundering that they left their homes and spent the rest of the night in the open. They also alleged that the Kuther HEP project road narrowed down the course of Machchhetar nullah thus making their village vulnerable to such flash floods.
In this video report, Rohit Rahi, village headman, Machhettar clearly blamed Kuther HEP project for flash flood destruction in the village. As per him, the project road has reduced the width of Machhettar nullah from about 25-30 meters to 4-5 meters as a result the deluge is invading the opposite bank of stream along the side of the village.
He also stated that during the first incident, the developer wanted to remove the heavy vehicles parked towards village side of Machhettar nullah but they opposed the move as a measure to safeguard the village area from flash flood destruction. He feared that the village was facing existential threats and demanded creation of a protection wall along Machhettar nullah to protect the village from such disasters.
Covering both of the incidents, this Dainik Jagran report shares some details on the impact of cloud bursts induced flash floods on Kuther HEP. It mentions that most of the vehicles, machineries damaged during first spell were washed away in second deluge causing financial losses worth crores to the ANDRITZ company which in August 2020 was given contract to supply electro-mechanical equipment for the Kuther HEP.
Additionally, the report also mentions that during the first incident about 45 workers serving in the night shift at the project site had to run to save their lives after they were informed by a worker living uphill about the approaching deluge in the nick of time otherwise the incident could have resulted in many human causalities. As per Punjab Kesari report
Patikari HEP The 16 MW hydro project is located on Bakhlikhad, a tributary of Beas near Gudah village upstream Pandoh dam in Mandi district. The project was built by Patikari Power Private Limited at a cost of Rs. 115.63 crore and was commissioned in February 2008.
The entire project has faced significant destruction by a cloud burst induced flash flood in Kuklah khad on August 23, 2023. As per this Divya Himachal report, the flash flood first damaged the boundary wall and then entered the powerhouse of the project causing severe damages to transformer, power panel, diesel generator and other equipment in a span of 30 minutes.
The wall of the dam site, approach road and transmission lines have also suffered damages. The project is not operational and restoration would take several months. The staff present at the project site had to run to save their lives. As per the in-charge, the dam site and turbine of the project were also submerged by the deluge and the project has been completely damaged. This video probably shot during the incident shows the impact of flash floods on the project.
Both the Kuther and Patikari HEPs are so called Run of the Rivers (RoR) projects and have benefited from CDM funds. Neither the developers nor the state government has so far put any official report detailing the scale of impact on these hydro projects.
Bhim Singh Rawat (bhim.sandrp@gmail.com)
Post Script:
This Punjab Kesari report mentions that the Malana II hydro project dam in Kullu district was filled with debris and silts causing its overspill, chocking of gates and breach in the structure following a ‘cloud burst’ incident on July, 24, 2023.
SANDRP 