Recently, around 60 individuals sustained injuries when a loco train transporting workers and officials collided with a goods train within the Pipalkoti tunnel of the Vishnugad-Pipalkoti Hydro Electric Project.
The Vishnugad Pipalkoti Hydro Electric Project (VPHEP) is a run-of-river hydropower scheme situated on the Alaknanda River, a significant tributary of the Ganga River, in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. This project boasts an installed capacity of 444 MW, comprising four units of 111 MW each. It operates with a gross head of roughly 237 meters.
Designed to supply peaking power to India’s Northern Grid, the VPHEP aims to generate an estimated 1,665 gigawatt-hours (or million kilowatt-hours) of electricity annually. The project’s infrastructure features a 65-meter diversion dam, a 13.4-km headrace tunnel, a 3-km tailrace tunnel, and an underground powerhouse.
All water diverted from the Alaknanda River will be returned approximately 18 km downstream from the diversion point, ensuring minimal ecological disruption while maximizing energy generation.
The VPHEP is under the purview of THDC India Ltd (formerly known as Tehri Hydro Development Corporation Limited). The project has garnered financial backing through a US$ 648 million loan from the World Bank, highlighting its significance as a crucial renewable energy initiative.
THDC India Ltd is a joint venture established between the government of India and the government of Uttar Pradesh, reflecting a collaborative effort towards enhancing India’s power infrastructure and promoting sustainable energy sources.
Q1. What is the installed capacity of the Vishnugad Pipalkoti Hydro Electric Project?
Answer: The Vishnugad Pipalkoti Hydro Electric Project has an installed capacity of 444 MW, consisting of four units of 111 MW each.
Q2. Where is the Vishnugad Pipalkoti Hydro Electric Project located?
Answer: The project is located in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, India, on the Alaknanda River, a major tributary of the Ganga.
Q3. Who is developing the VPHEP?
Answer: The project is being developed by THDC India Ltd, a joint venture between the Government of India and the Government of Uttar Pradesh.
Q4. How much electricity will VPHEP generate per year?
Answer: The Vishnugad Pipalkoti Hydro Electric Project is expected to generate approximately 1,665 gigawatt-hours of electricity annually.
Q5. What is the significance of the World Bank’s involvement in VPHEP?
Answer: The World Bank is financing the VPHEP with a loan of US$ 648 million, indicating the project's importance in promoting renewable energy development in India.
Question 1: What is the primary river on which the VPHEP is built?
A) Ganga River
B) Yamuna River
C) Alaknanda River
D) Brahmaputra River
Correct Answer: C
Question 2: What is the total installed capacity of the Vishnugad Pipalkoti Hydro Electric Project?
A) 500 MW
B) 444 MW
C) 350 MW
D) 600 MW
Correct Answer: B
Question 3: Which organization is developing the VPHEP?
A) NTPC
B) THDC India Ltd
C) NHPC
D) SJVN
Correct Answer: B
Question 4: How much financing is provided by the World Bank for the VPHEP?
A) US$ 500 million
B) US$ 648 million
C) US$ 700 million
D) US$ 450 million
Correct Answer: B
Question 5: What type of hydropower scheme is the VPHEP?
A) Storage type
B) Run-of-river type
C) Pumped storage type
D) Reservoir type
Correct Answer: B
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