Prelims: Indian Geography (Projects in news), Kiru Hydel project, Run-on-river project, Chenab River.
Mains: General Studies-I Important Geophysical Phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc., geographical features and their location-changes in critical geographical features (including water-bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes.
Why in the News ?
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has recently conducted raids at 30 locations at three places linked to former Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik.
Source: IE
📌 FYI on Prelims
Run-of-river project: They are hydroelectric systems that harvest the energy from flowing water to generate electricity in the absence of a large dam and reservoir.
About:
Kiru Hydel Project
- Location: It is being developed over the Chenab River in Kishtwar district, Jammu and Kashmir (J&K).
- Capacity: It is a 624MW run-of-river project
- Developed by The project is being developed by Chenab Valley Power Projects (CVPP).
- It is a joint venture between National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC, 49%), Jammu & Kashmir State Power Development Corporation (JKSPDC, 49%) and Power Trading Corporation (PTC, 2%).
- Beneficiary states: J&K, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Rajasthan, Union territories of Chandigarh & Delhi.
- Key features of project:
- Type of dam: It is a 135m-high concrete gravity dam near Kiru.
- Catchment area: The project will have a catchment area of 10,225km², while the reservoir will be 6.5km-long and 1.03km² in area.
- Diversion tunnel: It will have one 700m-long horse-shoe shaped diversion tunnel with two openings to divert the flow of the river to enable the dam construction.
Chenab River
- Source: It rises in the upper Himalayas in the Lahaul and Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh state.
- The river is formed by the confluence of two rivers, Chandra and Bhaga, at Tandi, 8 km southwest of Keylong, in the Lahaul and Spiti district.
- The Bhaga river originates from Surya taal lake, which is situated a few kilometers west of the Bara-lacha la pass in Himachal Pradesh.
- The Chandra river originates from glaciers east of the same pass (near Chandra Taal).
- Flows Through: It flows through the Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir into the plains of Punjab, Pakistan, before flowing into the Indus River.
- Some of the important projects/dams on Chenab:
- Ratle Hydro Electric Project
- Salal Dam- hydroelectric power project near Reasi
- Dul Hasti Hydroelectric Plant- power project in Kishtwar District
- Pakal Dul Dam (under construction)- on a tributary Marusadar River in Kishtwar District.
UPSC CSE EXAMS Corner
Prelims: PYQ/FAQ
Q. With reference to the Indus river system, of the following four rivers, three of them pour into one of them which joins the Indus direct. Among the following which is one is such river that joins the Indus direct?
A) Chenab
B) Jhelum
C) Ravi
D) Sutlej
Ans: d. Sutlej
Explaination:
- The Chenab joins Satluj in Pakistan.
- Option b is incorrect. The Jhelum joins the Chenab near Jhang in Pakistan.
- Option c is incorrect. The Ravi joins the Chenab near Sarai Sidhu.
- Option d is correct. Satluj is joined by the Chenab in Pakistan. Thus, Satluj receives the collective drainage of the Ravi, Chenab and Jhelum rivers. It joins the Indus a few kilometres above Mithankot.
