Bokang-Baling Hydroelectric Project

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About Bokang-Baling Hydroelectric Project:

It is a proposed hydroelectric project on river Dhauliganga in the Pithoragarh district in Uttarakhand.
It has a proposed installed capacity of 165 MW.
The project involves the construction of a concrete gravity dam of 65 m from river bed level and an underground Power House.
The project is being implemented by THDC India Limited.

Dhauliganga River:

Origin: It rises in the vicinity of the Niti Pass in the border regions between Garhwal region of Uttarakhand and southwestern Tibet.
It is one of the important tributaries of Alaknanda, the other being the Nandakini, Pindar, Mandakini, and Bhagirathi.
It meets the Alaknanda River (the major source stream of the Ganges river) at Vishnuprayag in Uttarakhand.
Length: The length of this river is about 94 km.
Tapovan, which is famous for its hot springs, is located on the banks of Dhauliganga.

THDC India Limited:

THDC India Limited (Formerly Tehri Hydro Development Corporation Limited) is a company jointly owned by the Government of India and the Government of Uttar Pradesh.
It was registered as a Public Limited Company in 1988 under the Companies Act 1956 to operate and maintain the Tehri Hydro Power Complex and other Hydro Projects.
It is a Mini Ratna Category-I Enterprise.

Q1) What is a Concrete Gravity dam?

A Concrete Gravity Dam is also known as “Gravity Arch Dam,” and is a freshwater-retaining concrete structure that has a wider footing (base) than the top-section. The purpose of a Concrete Gravity Dam is to maintain a low center of gravity, in order to avoid collapsing in the event of an abutment seal failure. In fact, a Gravity Arch Dam that is properly placed atop geologically stable formations is the safest type of dam.

Source: Locals in Dharchula town of Uttarakhand protest against power project, fear Joshimath-like crisis