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Hydro-morphometrical analyses of sub-himalyan region in relation to small hydro-electric power

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Abstract

The choice of site for small hydropower potentials in the inaccessible tracts of Himalayan region is a difficult task by the conventional methods. Present work suggests a site for developing a multipurpose small reservoir under GIS framework, in the Sub Himalayan region, India. Scarcity of geographical, climate and statistical data was the main problem for development of seasonal precipitation and runoff modeling for assessing water potentials and identification of possible small-scale hydropower sites. Small hydropower potential is mainly regulated by head and its durability available at site depending upon capacity of the watershed, underlying the reservoir, to produce the runoff. The study reveals that the Bari-Ka- Khad watershed (BKW) can be considered as a suitable site of interest for small-scale hydropower installation. It is having maximum drainage density (7.45 km/km2) and maximum available relief ratio (0.12), which demonstrates better capacity to produce runoff. According to drainage texture of BKW (Rt = 2.35), it come under coarse texture and higher values of Rho coefficient (ρ = 3.65), suggesting higher hydrologic storage during rainfall and attenuation of effects of erosion during elevated discharge.

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Acknowledgements

Authors are highly grateful to the Project Director (WTC), Joint Director (Research) and the Director of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi for kindly providing the necessary facilities for data analysis during the study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Water Technology Centre, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India, 110012

    Kishan Singh Rawat & A. K. Mishra

  2. Centre for Water Engineering & Management, Central University of Jharkhand, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India

    Vinod Kumar Tripathi

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  1. Kishan Singh Rawat
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  2. A. K. Mishra
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  3. Vinod Kumar Tripathi
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Correspondence to Vinod Kumar Tripathi.

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Rawat, K.S., Mishra, A.K. & Tripathi, V.K. Hydro-morphometrical analyses of sub-himalyan region in relation to small hydro-electric power. Arab J Geosci 6, 2889–2899 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-012-0586-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-012-0586-6

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