The Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project (PMP) is envisaged on the Mahakali River (known as Sarada” in India) where the River forms the international boundary between India and Nepal, dividing the Far Western Development Region of Nepal from the Uttrakhand State in India. It is a bi-national scheme of India and Nepal, primarily aimed at energy production.
Development of PMP, is a mutual interest project between two countries, and is covered under integrated Mahakali Treaty signed between Nepal and India according to which, equal sizes of underground power house i.e. of 3240MV will be constructed on each side of Mahakali river in India and Nepal. Moreover, the PMP also offer benefit of regulated water for irrigation to a vast area of agricultural land both in Nepal and India along with benefit of flood control at downstream.
The Pancheshwar dam site was first identified in 1956, by the then Central Water and Power Commission (CW&PC), India. The state government of Uttar Pradesh (India) had started/ carried out field investigations, and a preliminary project report was prepared in 1971, by the then WAPCOS INDIA Ltd, suggesting a 232 m high concrete gravity dam with dam toe powerhouse(s) of 1000 MW installed capacity.
For Terms of Reference (TORs) of PMP
TREATY INVOLVED IN PMP
MAHAKALI TREATY
India and Nepal had signed a Treaty known as Mahakali Treaty in February, 1996. Implementation of Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project is the centerpiece of the Mahakali Treaty.
Treaty Between His Majesty’s Government of Nepal And The Government of India Concerning The Integrated Development of the Mahakali Barrage Including Sarada Barrage, Tanakpur Barrage and Pancheshwar Project.
For further details on Mahakali Treaty 1996
TREATY FOR PMP
Authorized representatives of the respective Parties :
NEPAL: (Dr. Prakash Chandra Lohani) Minister for Foreign Affairs,His Majesty’s Government of Nepal
INDIA: (Mr. Pranab Mukherijee)
Minister for External Affairs,
Government of India
This was finally signed at Delhi by respective P.M. on 12 Feb. 1996
Events in chronological order
20 Sept 1996 Ratification of Mahakali Treaty by Parliament
1 Nov 1996 Establishment of Parliament Monitoring Committee
10 Dec 1999 Joint Project Office established in Kathmandu
June 2002 Joint Project Office closed
24 Nov 2009 Meeting of JCWR
15 Feb 2012 Meeting of Joint Ministerial Committee on Water Resources
Salient Features of PMP
PANCHESWOR HIGH DAM
INSTALLED CAPACITY: 6480MW(12 UNITS OF 540MW)
AVERAGE ENERGY PRODUCTION: 10671 GWh/yr
DAM TYPE: Rockfill with Central Earthen Core
CREST ELEVATION: 695 m.a.s.l
MAXIMUM DAM HEIGHT: 315 m
CREST LENGTH: 860 m
LIVE STORAGE: 6.56 billion cu. m
RUPALIGAD RE-REGULATING DAM
INSTALLED CAPACITY: 240 MW, 120 MW each side
AVERAGE ENERGY PERIOD: 65 GWH/yr
LOCATION: 25 Km. d/s of the main dam
LIVE STORAGE: 70 Million cu. m
DAM TYPE/HEIGHT: Concrete Gravity/83 m high
IMPACTS OF PMP
NEGATIVE IMPACTS
a) LOSS OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION
Production = 4013.3 Metric Ton
Cost = 138.58 Million (NRs.)
b) INUNDATION
Pancheswor HD: 3,850 Ha.
Rupaligad RRD: 258 Ha.
Total: 4,108 Ha.
c) DISPLACEMENT
22,765 persons from 2,926 HH
d) POLLUTION DURING CONSTRUCTION
e) LAW AND ORDER SITUATION
f) PRESSURE ON NATURAL RESOURCES, FOREST AND PUBLIC UTILITIES
g) MICROCLIMATIC CHANGE IN THE REGION
h) CHANGE IN LANDSCAPE AND LAND USE
i) NEGATIVE IMPACTS ON THE RIVERINE ECOLOGY, AQUATIC LIFE AND HABITAT
POSITIVE IMPACTS
a) ANNUAL INCOME FROM THE SALE OF ELECTRICITY
Energy production = 6160.5 GWh/yr
Energy income = NRs. 34.5 billion
Total Royalty Revenue = NRs. 3.25 billion
Baitadi District Revenue = NRs. 0.49 billion
Dadeldhura District revenue = NRs. 0.17 billion
Other Districts of the region = NRs. 0.14 billion
b) FISH FARMING
Open Reservoir Production = NRs. 207 Million
Production from Cage Fisheries = NRs. 8873 Million
Total Economic Benefits from Fisheries = NRs. 9080.3 Million
c) FLOOD CONTROL
ECONOMIC EVALUTON
COST(1995):NRs 224 billion US$
COST(2014):NRs 336 billion US$
Unit cost of Installed Capacity:
US$ 444 per kW( 1995)
US$ 666 per kW(2014)
B:C Ratio: 2.52
EIRR: 25%
Production cost: 3.4 US cents per kWh
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