Tapovan Vishnugad Hydro Electric Project

The Tapovan Vishnugad Power Plant is a 520 MW run-of-river project on the Dhauliganga River in Chamoli District of Uttarakhand, India. The plant is expected to generate approximately 2,558 GWh of electricity per year.

The project consists of four 130 MW Pelton turbines, and a barrage constructed across the Dhauliganga River. The barrage is 22 m high and 200 m long, consisting of four gates measuring 12 m high and 14 m wide each. The river water is diverted into the 12.1 km long headrace tunnel (HRT) via a desilting basin. The HRT has a diameter of 5.6 m. The tailrace tunnel is 493 m long with a diameter of 7 m. The surge tank at the end of HRT will minimize the water hammer during operation. Two pressure shafts with a diameter of 3.6 m each emanate from the surge tank. The project also included an underground powerhouse.

Encardio-rite was awarded the complete sub-contract for the monitoring works, including instrumentation of barrage, HRT, underground powerhouse, penstock, and butterfly valve chambers from respective contractors.

Encardio-rite turnkey scope of works included supply, installation, commissioning, calibration, etc.

Barrage instrumentation:

• Piezometers
• Automatic water level recorders
• Uplift pressure cells
• Water level measuring systems
• Joint meter - tri-axial
• Joint meter - linear
• Inclinometer with magnetic settlement systems
• Anchor bolt load cell
• Borehole extensometer  - multi-point
• Borehole extensometer  - single point
• Tape extensometer
• Topographic markers
• Portable readout units
• Automatic data acquisition system
• Automatic weather station
• Strong motion accelerometers 

HRT instrumentation:

• Piezometer
• Anchor  bolt load cell (300 KN)
• Total pressure cells 
• Borehole extensometer  - multi-point
• Borehole extensometer  - single point
• Reflective targets
• Tape extensometer
• Strong motion accelerometers 

Desilting Chambers :

• Piezometer
• Borehole extensometer – multi-point
• Surface settlement point