Jaypee University of Engineering and Technology 
Guna (M.P.) 
A Project Report On 
Tehri Dam 
Submitted To: Submitted By: 
Mr. Krishna Murari Rachit Khandelwal 
Senior Lecturer Er No.-091558 
Department Of Civil Engineering Civil (D2)
Tehri Dam 
Introduction 
The Tehri Dam is a multi-purpose rock and earth-fill embankment dam on the Bhagirathi River 
near Tehri in Uttarakhand, India. It is the primary dam of the Tehri Hydro Development 
Corporation Ltd. and the Tehri hydroelectric complex. 
Tehri Dam Project is one of the important storage cum hydro energy generation complex is in the 
Himalayan region of the country. After Bhakara it is the biggest water storage dam and may 
provide benefits to the water starved areas of Western U.P., Uttaranchal and Delhi. The hydro-energy 
may add to the peaking capacity of the Northern Grid and may help in stabilizing it. 
History 
A preliminary investigation for the Tehri Dam Project was completed in 1961 and its design was 
completed in 1972 with a 600 MW capacity power plant based on the study. Construction began 
in 1978 after feasibility studies but was delayed due to financial, environmental and social 
impacts. In 1986, technical and financial assistance was provided by the USSR but this was 
interrupted years later with political instability. India was forced to take control of the project 
and at first it was placed under the direction of the Irrigation Department of Uttar Pradesh. 
However, in 1988 the Tehri Hydro Development Corporation was formed to manage the dam 
and 75% of the funding would be provide by the federal government, 25% by the state. Uttar 
Pradesh would finance the entire irrigation portion of the project. In 1990, the project was 
reconsidered and the design changed to its current multi-purpose. Construction of the Tehri Dam 
was complete in 2006. 
Location 
Tehri Dam is the primary dam of the Tehri Development Project, a major hydroelectric project 
centered near Tehri Town in the state of Uttarakhand in India.It is located on the Bhagirathi 
River, the principal tributary of the sacred River Ganga
Technical description 
1. Earth & Rock Fill Dam : 
Type : Rock and Earth Fill Height : 260.5 m 
Base : 1128 m Width at top : 25.5 m 
Length at the top : 592 m 
2. Tehri Reservoir: 
Water Spread : 42 SQ KM Gross Storage : 3540 Miliion Cum 
Live Storage : 2615 Million Cum 
3. Power House: 
Power House : Under ground Cavern 
Size : 197mx24mx63m 
Type of Turbines : Francis 
Rated Head : 188 M Speed : 214.3 RPM 
Installed Capacity : 4x250MW 
Annual Energy : 3568 MUs
Time Line for Tehri Dam 
1949 Tehri dam conceived 
1961 Tehri chosen as a tentative site for the dam 
1972 Planning Commission gives its nod to the dam 
1978 Actual construction of the dam begins under police protection; Protests gather momentum 
1980 Environmental Appraisal Committee appointed by the government, refuses environmental 
clearance 
1986 Diversion tunnels start operating; Protestors storm the site and stall construction work 
1990 Environmental Appraisal Committee, the D R Bhumbla committee, rejects the dam again 
1991 Earthquake measuring 6.6 on Richter scale rocks Uttarkashi. Renewed concerns about the 
seismic safety of the dam. 
1992 Sunderlal Bahuguna goes on a fast unto death. Work on the dam temporarily stopped. Gain 
in 1995 
1996 Government sets up the V K Gaur committee to look into seismic safety 
1997 Hanumantha Rao committee on rehabilitation submits its report. Recommends major 
changes in rehabilitation policy 
1998 Gaur committee submits its report. Asks for detailed analysis 
1999 Chamoli earthquake, measuring 6.8, brings large scale destruction. Anti-dam activists up in 
arms about safety 
1999 Committee of secretaries of the Union government clears dam 
January 2001 Bhuj Earthquake Again Raises Concerns 
April 2001 Government Forms another Committee under the S&T Minister Murli Manohar 
Joshi 
November 2002 M M Joshi Committee Submits Its Report. Says The Dam Is Safe To Withstand 
An Earthquake Of High Magnitude 
September 2003 In A Divided Verdict, The Supreme Court Clears The Legal Hurdles For Dam 
Construction 
March 2004 Tunnel T2 Closed. Water Level Rises To 648 Metres Submerging Many Parts Of 
Old Tehri Town 
July 29, 2004 Water Level Rises To 655 Metres Submerging The Remaining Parts Of The Tehri 
Town. Residents Flee For Their Lives 
August 2004 Internal Landslide at The Dam Site. 29 Workers Dead 
2006 Tehri Town Fully Submerges. First Stage Of Project Completes. (Total Production 1000 
Mw)
Components of Tehri Hydro Power Complex 
Tehri Hydro Power Complex (2400 MW), comprises the following components: 
1. Tehri Dam & Hydro Power Plant (1000 MW) 
2. Koteshwar Hydro Electric Project (400 MW) 
3. Tehri Pumped Storage Plant (PSP) (1000 MW) 
The Govt. in March, 1994 approved the implementation of Tehri Dam & HPP (1000 MW) along 
with committed works of Koteshwar HEP and essential works of Tehri PSP, as Stage-I of Tehri 
Power Complex. With the synchronization 4th unit of 250 MW in March-07, Tehri Power 
Station has become fully operation with installed capacity of 1000 MW. 
The 400 MW Koteshwar HEP, was approved by Govt. in April,2000 and the work has 
progressed in right earnest and after completion of major excavation work in Dam & Spillway, 
Stiling Basin and Power Intake area, the concreting was started and is progressing in full swing. 
Investment approval for Tehri PSP (1000 MW) has been accorded by the Govt. in July’06 at an 
estimated project cost of Rs. 1657.60 Cr. (at Dec’05 Price Level) with Debt Equity ratio of 
70:30. The essential works of Tehri PSP have already been completed with Tehri Dam & HPP 
Stage-I. 
Estimated Project Cost 
Item Cost in Crores Rupees 
Major Civil works including Hydro 
1325.76 
Mechanical works 
Electro Mechanical Equipment 543.03 
Infrastructure 152.02 
Rehabilitation & resettlement 412.22 
Environment 66.00 
Establishment 249.53 
Others 180.24 
Sub total 2963.66 
Interest During Construction(IDC) and 
427.74 
Financing Charges 
Total Rs. 3357.04
Actual Project Cost 
Due to some agitations lot of valuable construction time was lost and there was delay in the 
startup work. The project revised cost estimates as per March 2002-03 is as follows. 
Item Cost in Crores Rupees 
Major Civil works including Hydro 
3034.59 
Mechanical works 
Electro Mechanical Equipment 1107.85 
Infrastructure 159.67 
Rehabilitation & resettlement 983.14 
Environment 141.74 
Establishment 346.93 
Others 287.40 
Sub total 6061.32 
Interest During Construction(IDC) and 
560.00 
Financing Charges 
Total 6621.32 
Project Cost Escalation and Completion Time through the Year 
S. 
No. 
Description Amount in Rs. Crores 
1 Total Cost of Project March 93 Price 
level to be completed in 1999 
2963.66 
2 March 2003 Price level To be 
commissioned by 2005 (March) 
6621.32 crores 
3 Feb. 2005, (Expenditure to date) To be 
completed by March 2006 
6896.84 crores 
Type of Contract 
The contract bidding was as per the International Contract Bidding procedures (ICB) and bids 
were undertaken for various packages constituting the total work. It is a normal item rate 
contract. These procedures are prevalent in the construction industry in India and were 
acceptable to the THDC and Govt. of India.
Contractors 
1. Dam: 
The tenders for dam were invited in 1993. The bidders gave wide ranging cost estimates and 
programmes. This necessitated rebidding. The important details of rebid are given below. 
1 
2 Date of tender floated – 8th May 1996 
3 Date of bid opening – 9th Aug. 1996 
4 Date of Letter of intent – 10th Jan. 1997 
5 Date of agreement – 27th Jan. 1997 
6 Date start of work – 1st Feb. 1997 
7 Value of contract – Rs. 898.45 crores 
The following were the bidders for the Dam. 
1 M/S Jaiprakash Industries 
2 Hindustan Construction Company 
3 Continental Construction Company 
The contract was awarded to Jaiprakash Industries 
2. Spill way: 
The bids for spillway were invited as per the following details. 
1) Date of tender initiated – 18th Sept. 1998 
2) Date of opening of bids – 11th Nov. 1998 
3) Date of issue of Letter of Intent – 15th Dec. 1998 
4) Date of agreement – 28th 1998 
5) Date of start of work – 1st Feb. 1998 
6) Value of contract – Rs. 474.81 
The bidders were as follows 
1) Jaiprakash Industries 
2) Karamchand Thapar 
3) Hindustan Construction Company 
4) Lanco 
5) Gammons 
6) Bhagirathi 
The contract was awarded to Jaiprakash Industries
3. Power House: 
The tenders for Power House (Package I, II, III) were floated in 1995. The following are the 
important acts. 
(1) Tenders floated on 10.05.93 
(2) Tenders opened on 15.12.93 
(3) Amendments issued on 19.08.93 
(4) Price bid opened on 03.01.95 
(5) Contract awarded on 09.11.95 
(6) Value of contract for the packages Rs. 210.84 crores 
Following were the bidders 
(1) M/S Thapars 
(2) Hindustan Construction Ltd. 
The contract was awarded to M/S Thapars 
4. Tehri Pumped Storage Plant: 
Major works of the Project have been planned to be executed through a single EPC contract. 
Agreement for EPC/Turnkey execution of the Project has been signed with the consortium of 
M/S Alstom Hydro France and Hindustan Construction Company on 23rd June-2011. Work 
on the project has commenced w.e.f. 27th Jul-11. 
Problems of the project 
Major projects done in far flung and inhospitable terrain with seismic risk, executed in younger 
Himalayan rocks may have many problems. Any project is normally executed with activities in 
the following chronology. 
(1) Site identification, pre feasibility 
(2) Detailed investigation 
(3) Planning of the project and preparation of detailed feasibility report with realistic cost 
estimates. 
(4) Designing of different components 
(5) Arranging finances 
(6) Rehabilitation and resettlement and land acquisition 
(7) Infrastructure development 
(8) Setting up base facilities for construction 
(9) Construction 
(10) Testing the system and operation
Dam safety 
Safety of Tehri Dam had always been an issue with the local people and the knowledgeable 
persons in the scientific field. In Feb. 1967, Mr. N.N.Yakovlov, UN Expert, recommended 
rockfill Dam to be the best solution. Mr. J.B. Cook, of USA in1972 also concluded that a high 
Dam at Tehri was feasible. In the year 1990 a high level committee was also constituted to look 
into it further. This committee also considered the Dam safe. After Utterakashi earthquake in 
October, 1991 the matter was once again looked into in depth. The Russians also studied the 
earthquake safety and declared it to be the gentle Dam to with stand severe earthquake shocks up 
to 8.5 magnitude. 
Benefits 
The main benefits from the Project when completed would be: 
 Addition to the installed capacity in Northern Region: 1000 MW (2400 MW on completion 
of entire Complex) 
 Annual energy availability peaking: 3568 Million Units (6200 MU on completion of entire 
Complex) 
 Additional irrigation in 2.7 lakh hectares area besides stabilization in existing 6.04 lakh 
hectares area. 
 162 Million Gallons of water per day (300 Cusecs) for drinking water supply to Delhi to 
cater to a population of 40 lac. 
 108 Million Gallons of water per day (200 Cusecs) for drinking water supply to the towns 
and villages of Uttar Pradesh. 
 Integrated development of Garhwal Region, including construction of a new hill stations viz. 
New Tehri Town (NTT) with provision of all possible facility, improved communication, 
education, health, tourist traffic, setting up of non- polluting industries, development of 
horticulture, fisheries, afforestation of the region etc. much to the advantage of the people of 
the region.

Tehri dam

  • 1.
    Jaypee University ofEngineering and Technology Guna (M.P.) A Project Report On Tehri Dam Submitted To: Submitted By: Mr. Krishna Murari Rachit Khandelwal Senior Lecturer Er No.-091558 Department Of Civil Engineering Civil (D2)
  • 2.
    Tehri Dam Introduction The Tehri Dam is a multi-purpose rock and earth-fill embankment dam on the Bhagirathi River near Tehri in Uttarakhand, India. It is the primary dam of the Tehri Hydro Development Corporation Ltd. and the Tehri hydroelectric complex. Tehri Dam Project is one of the important storage cum hydro energy generation complex is in the Himalayan region of the country. After Bhakara it is the biggest water storage dam and may provide benefits to the water starved areas of Western U.P., Uttaranchal and Delhi. The hydro-energy may add to the peaking capacity of the Northern Grid and may help in stabilizing it. History A preliminary investigation for the Tehri Dam Project was completed in 1961 and its design was completed in 1972 with a 600 MW capacity power plant based on the study. Construction began in 1978 after feasibility studies but was delayed due to financial, environmental and social impacts. In 1986, technical and financial assistance was provided by the USSR but this was interrupted years later with political instability. India was forced to take control of the project and at first it was placed under the direction of the Irrigation Department of Uttar Pradesh. However, in 1988 the Tehri Hydro Development Corporation was formed to manage the dam and 75% of the funding would be provide by the federal government, 25% by the state. Uttar Pradesh would finance the entire irrigation portion of the project. In 1990, the project was reconsidered and the design changed to its current multi-purpose. Construction of the Tehri Dam was complete in 2006. Location Tehri Dam is the primary dam of the Tehri Development Project, a major hydroelectric project centered near Tehri Town in the state of Uttarakhand in India.It is located on the Bhagirathi River, the principal tributary of the sacred River Ganga
  • 3.
    Technical description 1.Earth & Rock Fill Dam : Type : Rock and Earth Fill Height : 260.5 m Base : 1128 m Width at top : 25.5 m Length at the top : 592 m 2. Tehri Reservoir: Water Spread : 42 SQ KM Gross Storage : 3540 Miliion Cum Live Storage : 2615 Million Cum 3. Power House: Power House : Under ground Cavern Size : 197mx24mx63m Type of Turbines : Francis Rated Head : 188 M Speed : 214.3 RPM Installed Capacity : 4x250MW Annual Energy : 3568 MUs
  • 4.
    Time Line forTehri Dam 1949 Tehri dam conceived 1961 Tehri chosen as a tentative site for the dam 1972 Planning Commission gives its nod to the dam 1978 Actual construction of the dam begins under police protection; Protests gather momentum 1980 Environmental Appraisal Committee appointed by the government, refuses environmental clearance 1986 Diversion tunnels start operating; Protestors storm the site and stall construction work 1990 Environmental Appraisal Committee, the D R Bhumbla committee, rejects the dam again 1991 Earthquake measuring 6.6 on Richter scale rocks Uttarkashi. Renewed concerns about the seismic safety of the dam. 1992 Sunderlal Bahuguna goes on a fast unto death. Work on the dam temporarily stopped. Gain in 1995 1996 Government sets up the V K Gaur committee to look into seismic safety 1997 Hanumantha Rao committee on rehabilitation submits its report. Recommends major changes in rehabilitation policy 1998 Gaur committee submits its report. Asks for detailed analysis 1999 Chamoli earthquake, measuring 6.8, brings large scale destruction. Anti-dam activists up in arms about safety 1999 Committee of secretaries of the Union government clears dam January 2001 Bhuj Earthquake Again Raises Concerns April 2001 Government Forms another Committee under the S&T Minister Murli Manohar Joshi November 2002 M M Joshi Committee Submits Its Report. Says The Dam Is Safe To Withstand An Earthquake Of High Magnitude September 2003 In A Divided Verdict, The Supreme Court Clears The Legal Hurdles For Dam Construction March 2004 Tunnel T2 Closed. Water Level Rises To 648 Metres Submerging Many Parts Of Old Tehri Town July 29, 2004 Water Level Rises To 655 Metres Submerging The Remaining Parts Of The Tehri Town. Residents Flee For Their Lives August 2004 Internal Landslide at The Dam Site. 29 Workers Dead 2006 Tehri Town Fully Submerges. First Stage Of Project Completes. (Total Production 1000 Mw)
  • 5.
    Components of TehriHydro Power Complex Tehri Hydro Power Complex (2400 MW), comprises the following components: 1. Tehri Dam & Hydro Power Plant (1000 MW) 2. Koteshwar Hydro Electric Project (400 MW) 3. Tehri Pumped Storage Plant (PSP) (1000 MW) The Govt. in March, 1994 approved the implementation of Tehri Dam & HPP (1000 MW) along with committed works of Koteshwar HEP and essential works of Tehri PSP, as Stage-I of Tehri Power Complex. With the synchronization 4th unit of 250 MW in March-07, Tehri Power Station has become fully operation with installed capacity of 1000 MW. The 400 MW Koteshwar HEP, was approved by Govt. in April,2000 and the work has progressed in right earnest and after completion of major excavation work in Dam & Spillway, Stiling Basin and Power Intake area, the concreting was started and is progressing in full swing. Investment approval for Tehri PSP (1000 MW) has been accorded by the Govt. in July’06 at an estimated project cost of Rs. 1657.60 Cr. (at Dec’05 Price Level) with Debt Equity ratio of 70:30. The essential works of Tehri PSP have already been completed with Tehri Dam & HPP Stage-I. Estimated Project Cost Item Cost in Crores Rupees Major Civil works including Hydro 1325.76 Mechanical works Electro Mechanical Equipment 543.03 Infrastructure 152.02 Rehabilitation & resettlement 412.22 Environment 66.00 Establishment 249.53 Others 180.24 Sub total 2963.66 Interest During Construction(IDC) and 427.74 Financing Charges Total Rs. 3357.04
  • 6.
    Actual Project Cost Due to some agitations lot of valuable construction time was lost and there was delay in the startup work. The project revised cost estimates as per March 2002-03 is as follows. Item Cost in Crores Rupees Major Civil works including Hydro 3034.59 Mechanical works Electro Mechanical Equipment 1107.85 Infrastructure 159.67 Rehabilitation & resettlement 983.14 Environment 141.74 Establishment 346.93 Others 287.40 Sub total 6061.32 Interest During Construction(IDC) and 560.00 Financing Charges Total 6621.32 Project Cost Escalation and Completion Time through the Year S. No. Description Amount in Rs. Crores 1 Total Cost of Project March 93 Price level to be completed in 1999 2963.66 2 March 2003 Price level To be commissioned by 2005 (March) 6621.32 crores 3 Feb. 2005, (Expenditure to date) To be completed by March 2006 6896.84 crores Type of Contract The contract bidding was as per the International Contract Bidding procedures (ICB) and bids were undertaken for various packages constituting the total work. It is a normal item rate contract. These procedures are prevalent in the construction industry in India and were acceptable to the THDC and Govt. of India.
  • 7.
    Contractors 1. Dam: The tenders for dam were invited in 1993. The bidders gave wide ranging cost estimates and programmes. This necessitated rebidding. The important details of rebid are given below. 1 2 Date of tender floated – 8th May 1996 3 Date of bid opening – 9th Aug. 1996 4 Date of Letter of intent – 10th Jan. 1997 5 Date of agreement – 27th Jan. 1997 6 Date start of work – 1st Feb. 1997 7 Value of contract – Rs. 898.45 crores The following were the bidders for the Dam. 1 M/S Jaiprakash Industries 2 Hindustan Construction Company 3 Continental Construction Company The contract was awarded to Jaiprakash Industries 2. Spill way: The bids for spillway were invited as per the following details. 1) Date of tender initiated – 18th Sept. 1998 2) Date of opening of bids – 11th Nov. 1998 3) Date of issue of Letter of Intent – 15th Dec. 1998 4) Date of agreement – 28th 1998 5) Date of start of work – 1st Feb. 1998 6) Value of contract – Rs. 474.81 The bidders were as follows 1) Jaiprakash Industries 2) Karamchand Thapar 3) Hindustan Construction Company 4) Lanco 5) Gammons 6) Bhagirathi The contract was awarded to Jaiprakash Industries
  • 8.
    3. Power House: The tenders for Power House (Package I, II, III) were floated in 1995. The following are the important acts. (1) Tenders floated on 10.05.93 (2) Tenders opened on 15.12.93 (3) Amendments issued on 19.08.93 (4) Price bid opened on 03.01.95 (5) Contract awarded on 09.11.95 (6) Value of contract for the packages Rs. 210.84 crores Following were the bidders (1) M/S Thapars (2) Hindustan Construction Ltd. The contract was awarded to M/S Thapars 4. Tehri Pumped Storage Plant: Major works of the Project have been planned to be executed through a single EPC contract. Agreement for EPC/Turnkey execution of the Project has been signed with the consortium of M/S Alstom Hydro France and Hindustan Construction Company on 23rd June-2011. Work on the project has commenced w.e.f. 27th Jul-11. Problems of the project Major projects done in far flung and inhospitable terrain with seismic risk, executed in younger Himalayan rocks may have many problems. Any project is normally executed with activities in the following chronology. (1) Site identification, pre feasibility (2) Detailed investigation (3) Planning of the project and preparation of detailed feasibility report with realistic cost estimates. (4) Designing of different components (5) Arranging finances (6) Rehabilitation and resettlement and land acquisition (7) Infrastructure development (8) Setting up base facilities for construction (9) Construction (10) Testing the system and operation
  • 9.
    Dam safety Safetyof Tehri Dam had always been an issue with the local people and the knowledgeable persons in the scientific field. In Feb. 1967, Mr. N.N.Yakovlov, UN Expert, recommended rockfill Dam to be the best solution. Mr. J.B. Cook, of USA in1972 also concluded that a high Dam at Tehri was feasible. In the year 1990 a high level committee was also constituted to look into it further. This committee also considered the Dam safe. After Utterakashi earthquake in October, 1991 the matter was once again looked into in depth. The Russians also studied the earthquake safety and declared it to be the gentle Dam to with stand severe earthquake shocks up to 8.5 magnitude. Benefits The main benefits from the Project when completed would be:  Addition to the installed capacity in Northern Region: 1000 MW (2400 MW on completion of entire Complex)  Annual energy availability peaking: 3568 Million Units (6200 MU on completion of entire Complex)  Additional irrigation in 2.7 lakh hectares area besides stabilization in existing 6.04 lakh hectares area.  162 Million Gallons of water per day (300 Cusecs) for drinking water supply to Delhi to cater to a population of 40 lac.  108 Million Gallons of water per day (200 Cusecs) for drinking water supply to the towns and villages of Uttar Pradesh.  Integrated development of Garhwal Region, including construction of a new hill stations viz. New Tehri Town (NTT) with provision of all possible facility, improved communication, education, health, tourist traffic, setting up of non- polluting industries, development of horticulture, fisheries, afforestation of the region etc. much to the advantage of the people of the region.