Koldam Dam

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2017}}

{{Use Indian English|date=February 2017}}

{{Infobox dam

| name = Koldam

| name_official = Koldam Hydro Power Station

File:Power House IMG 20200505 171842.jpg

| image =

| image_size =

| image_caption = A rendition of the dam

| image_alt =

| location_map = India

| location_map_size =

| location_map_caption =

| coordinates = {{coord|31|22|59|N|76|52|16|E|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}

| country = India

| location = Bilaspur district

| status = O

| construction_began = 2004

| opening = 2015

| demolished =

| cost =

| owner = NTPC Limited

| dam_type = Embankment, rock-fill with clay core

| dam_height =

| dam_height_thalweg = {{Convert|153|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}

| dam_height_foundation = {{Convert|167|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}

| dam_length = {{Convert|474|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}

| dam_width_crest = {{Convert|14|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}

| dam_width_base = 768.97 m

| dam_volume = {{Convert|12000000|m3|cuyd|0|abbr=on}}

| dam_elevation_crest = {{Convert|648|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}

| dam_crosses = Sutlej

| spillway_count =

| spillway_type = Chute with flip bucket, six radial gates

| spillway_capacity = {{Convert|16500|m3/s|ft3/s|0|abbr=on}}

| res_name =

| res_capacity_total = {{Convert|576000000|m3|acre feet|0|abbr=on}}{{cite web|last1=Heard|first1=S.P.|title=Koldam hydroelectric Project a new hydroelectric project on the Satluj river in India.|url=https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:TL3isp1tWzsJ:b-dig.iie.org.mx/BibDig/P10-0971/2_CONFERENCE_PAPERS/21.12.%2520Heard%2520S.pdf+&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESg7bvZNcdVTHl0v-iTdpkMyiqOMgU3ynAC0bQd_5aitMLWGLA64xAhgsQ8FPHzCo5_qO2j9Q4G_k__JNrux3LmycSEew-GdkAnTZ4QVmJZgdwapt7JkV36NvdpK2MRH1LzrUc8c&sig=AHIEtbQouiWQrO9uti796yEdElve1RV5nA|access-date=23 November 2011|first2=P. |last2=Gardron |first3=R.C. |last3=Senan |first4= M. |last4=Agarwal}}

| res_capacity_active = 90 MCM

| res_capacity_inactive = 486 MCM

| res_catchment = 53770 Sq Km

| res_surface = 12.5 Sq Km

| res_elevation = {{Convert|642|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}{{cite web|title=Kol Dam Hydro Electric Power Project|url=http://www.itd-koldam.com/intro.php|publisher=Italian-Thai Development PLC|access-date=23 November 2011|archive-date=3 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111203224000/http://www.itd-koldam.com/intro.php|url-status=dead}}

| res_max_depth =

| res_max_length = {{Convert|40|km|mi|0|abbr=on}}

| res_max_width =

| plant_hydraulic_head = {{Convert|131.2|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} (static)

| res_tidal_range =

| plant_operator =

| plant_commission = 2015{{cite web|title=Kol Dam HEP commissioning now slated for 2013|url=http://asian-power.com/project/more-news/kol-dam-hep-commissioning-now-slated-2013|publisher=Asian Power|access-date=23 November 2011|date=24 June 2011}}

| plant_decommission =

| plant_type =

| plant_turbines = 4 x 200 MW Francis-type

| plant_capacity = 800 MW

| plant_annual_gen = 3055 million units (3055 GWh)

| website =

| extra =

| plant_capacity_factor = 43.58

}}

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The Koldam Hydropower Station, commonly known as Koldam, is an embankment dam on the Sutlej River upstream of the Dehar Power House. It is 18 km from Bilaspur off the Chandigarh-Manali Highway (NH-21) near Barmana, Himachal Pradesh, India. The main purpose of the dam is hydroelectric power generation and it will support an 800 MW power station. The dam was constructed by NTPC Limited (erstwhile National Thermal Power Corporation Limited).{{Cite news|title = BHEL starts NTPC's 800-MW Koldam hydro power plant - The Economic Times|url = http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/energy/power/bhel-starts-ntpcs-800-mw-koldam-hydro-power-plant/articleshow/47674211.cms|website = The Economic Times|access-date = 2016-01-09}}

Koldam project was first conceived in mid‐sixties and investigations on various possible sites had been in progress since 1966. Based on investigation carried out until 1975, a project report was prepared which envisaged construction of rockfill dam having an installed capacity of 600 MW. The work of investigation and studies was taken by HPSEB in October, 1984. The project capacity was revised to 800 MW, but work did not start for lack of funds. Subsequently, Koldam Hydro Project was taken over by NTPC in 2000 and Project Report was revised with a 167m high rock fill dam and Surface Power House located at toe of the dam with installed capacity of 4X200 MW.

The foundation stone for the dam was laid on 5 June 2000 by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. On 14 January 2004, main construction on the dam began. KB Dubey was the first Head of the Project (BUH) . The current BUH is NS Thakur (since 2020).

Due to problems associated with geological issues and declaration of part of reservoir area in 2006 as extension of Majathal Wildlife Sanctuary, the project got delayed. Attempts to impound the reservoir first failed in December 2013 due to problems with sealing the diversion tunnels. By 18 March 2014, a fourth attempt to seal the tunnels and fill the lake was underway.{{cite news|title=Impounding of water in NTPC's Koldam hydel project begins|url=http://powerbusinessview.com/index.php/component/k2/item/1024-impounding-of-water-in-ntpc-s-koldam-hydel-project-begins|access-date=1 April 2014|newspaper=Power Business View|date=18 March 2014|archive-date=7 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407172127/http://powerbusinessview.com/index.php/component/k2/item/1024-impounding-of-water-in-ntpc-s-koldam-hydel-project-begins|url-status=dead}} Repairs were made and another unsuccessful impounding was reached in April 2014 as the diversion tunnel continued to leak.{{cite news | url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/NTPC-conducts-reservoir-impounding-for-Kol-dam-project/articleshow/33475119.cms | title=NTPC conducts reservoir impounding for Kol dam project | date=9 April 2014 | newspaper=The Times of India | access-date=13 May 2014}} Another period of impounding began on 3 November 2014 and finished on 3 January 2015. A tunnel still leaked though but authorities were confident they would have the power station operational by April.{{cite news|title=2nd phase of impounding over, but leakage continues|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/himachal/2nd-phase-of-impounding-over-but-leakage-continues/28853.html|access-date=17 January 2015|newspaper=The Tribune|date=12 January 2015}} Generator commissioning was originally scheduled for 2009 but was rescheduled to 2015.{{cite web|title=Koldam Project of NTPC suffers major setback in Himachal|url=http://post.jagran.com/koldam-project-of-ntpc-suffers-major-setback-in-himachal-1307284627|publisher=Jagran Post|access-date=23 November 2011|date=5 June 2011}}{{cite web|title=800 MW Koldam project commissioning extended to April 2014|url=http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/wire-news/800-mw-koldam-project-commissioning-extended-to-april-2014_795525.html|publisher=MoneyControl|access-date=2 August 2013|date=15 December 2012}}

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