Development of Uttarakhand Using Alternative Energy Source as Micro Hydropower

Abstract

Micro hydropower plant/water mills are local energy resource can be usefully harnessed for rural energy from the small streams or rivers. These streams usually called as gaarh are an important asset for the sustainable development of the villages of Uttarakhand. In this paper the following two micro hydropower plants of Uttarakhand is taken up for the case study and suggestions to improve the problems faced by the projects are discussed. Lacchiwala is a village situated on the foothills of Mussoorie. It is alongside NH 74 and is 20 km from Dehradun towards Haridwar. Song is the river that provides all irrigation facilities to the farmers. Apart from irrigation facility it also acts as a source of hydroelectric power. The village has a capacity of 200 villagers. Kotabagh Power Project (0.2 MW) in District Nainital in year 1989–1990 is a Micro Hydro Power Station of UPJVN Limited by the then Govt. of U.P. for exclusive development of small hydroelectric power in the state of Uttar Pradesh (now under Uttarakhand). Kotabagh Power Station is located on Dapka River, near Kalagarh—about 70 km from Haldwani and has 2 units of 100 kW each based on available discharge to the machines. Kotabagh was suffering from lack of electricity for a long time. The Kotabagh Power Station still continues to lighten Kotabagh area of the Nainital District. Development of Uttarakhand can be possible by making the villagers self dependent by developing micro power projects/water mills, so that it can be a source of power and employment opportunities for them.