Tehri Dam is the biggest dam in Asia. It is situated on
Bhagirathi river in Uttarakhand, India. It is rock and earth filled
massive water barrier. Tehri Hydro Development Coorporation (THDC) was
formed in 1988 to manage the dam. The dam started working in 2006.
Electricity generation
Tehri dam generates 1000 MW of hydroelectricity along with an
additional 1000 MW of pumped storage hydroelectricity (to be completed
in 2013). The Tehri Hydropower Complex also includes 400 MW Koteshwar
dam downstream.
Resettlement of locals
The relocation of more than 100,000 people from the area has led
to protracted legal battles over resettlement rights, and ultimately
resulted in the project's delayed completion. People living near the
Tehri dam on the Bhagirathi river in Uttarakhand are in trouble.
Villages on the slopes overlooking the reservoir are threatened by
increasing landslides and those living downstream, once ousted for the
building of the dam and rehabilitated, are losing their new homes to an
airport expansion project.
Dangers with Tehri Dam
The Tehri Dam has been the object of active protestation by
environmental organizations and local people of the region. In addition
to the human rights concerns, the project has spurred concerns about the
environmental consequences of locating a large dam in the fragile
ecosystem of the Himalayan foothills.
There are further concerns regarding the dam's geological stability. The Tehri dam is located in the Central Himalayan Seismic Gap, a major geologic fault zone. This region was the site of a 6.8 magnitude earthquake in October 1991, with an epicenter 500 km from the location of the dam.
Dam proponents claim that the complex is designed to withstand an earthquake of 8.4 magnitude, but some seismologists say that earthquakes with a magnitude of 8.5 or more could occur in this region. Were such a catastrophe to occur, the potentially resulting dam-break would submerge numerous towns downstream, whose populations total near half a million.
There are further concerns regarding the dam's geological stability. The Tehri dam is located in the Central Himalayan Seismic Gap, a major geologic fault zone. This region was the site of a 6.8 magnitude earthquake in October 1991, with an epicenter 500 km from the location of the dam.
Dam proponents claim that the complex is designed to withstand an earthquake of 8.4 magnitude, but some seismologists say that earthquakes with a magnitude of 8.5 or more could occur in this region. Were such a catastrophe to occur, the potentially resulting dam-break would submerge numerous towns downstream, whose populations total near half a million.
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| LAKE OF TEHRI DAM |
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| LAKE OF TEHRI DAM |
Safety of Tehri Dam
Since Tehri dam is Rock and Earth filled dam, it is strong enough
to withstand an earthquake of 8.4 magnitude. Also like other dams, in
case of breakage, the Tehri dam will not collapse suddenly.
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