Geological Survey of India

Construction Stage Geological Investigations for the Kol Dam

Project, Bilaspur District, Himachal Pradesh
INTRODUCTION: Kol Dam Project, located in Himachal Pradesh, envisages construction
of 167m high and 600m long dam across Satluj about 6 km upstream of Dehar
Powerhouse, two 14m finished diameter diversion tunnels (900m each) situated on right
bank, a 108.5m wide and 0.42km long chute spillway and a surface powerhouse of
800(4x200) MW capacity. Live storage of 90 million cum. (9000 ha. mtr.) between Full
Reservoir level (FRL) at EL 642m and Minimum Draw Down level (MDDL) at EL 636m.
The top of dam shall be EL 648 m. Life of Bhakhra dam will increase by about 18 years.
DPR stage Investigations for this project undertaken by HPSEB started during FS 1967-68
and continued till FS 1985-86. During FS 2000-2002 detailed investigations for
construction stage were undertaken by NTPC Ltd with Electricite De France (EDF) as
design consultant. The construction of the project is in progress and majority of excavation
work is over. Construction of diversion tunnels, desanding chambers and switchyard has
been completed while dam and powerhouse are in advanced stage. The project is
scheduled to be commissioned by 2012. Geological Survey of India has been associated
with the construction stage geological investigations of the project since FS 2000-2001 and
has

contributed

significantly

in

terms

of

timely

techno-economic

geotechnical

recommendations to project authorities.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

LAHAUL & SPITI

CHAMBA

KULLU

KANGRA

KINNAUR

UNA HAMIRPUR
MANDI
BILASPUR
KOLDAM PROJECT

SHIMLA
SOLAN

SIRMAUR

Map depicting location of Koldam Project

Contributed by Sanjiv Kumar,

Northern Region

Geological Survey of India

REGIONAL GEOLOGY AND SEISMICITY: The rocks of Shali Group and Sundernagar
Formation, Mandi-Darla volcanics, and Basantpur Formation of Simla Group are exposed
in the project area. At the location of major project components, rocks of Tatapani
Formation (dolomite) and Sorgharwari Formation (limestone) of Shali Group and phyllite
belonging to Basantpur Formation are exposed along with basic intrusives. The general
trend of strata recorded is N10W S10E with dip of about 65-85 (sub-vertical) towards
southwest direction.
The following lithological sequence is exposed in the area around Kol Dam project:

Simla Group

Basantpur Formation

Shale, siltstone with interbeds of lenticular

limestone;
shale
is
sporadically
carbonaceous.
Impersistent
bands
of
quartzite and dolomite. Greyish white
quartzite and conglomerate (sporadic).

Tattapani Formation

Cherty dolomite, grey and pink in colour with

grey phyllitised shales.

Sorgharwari Formation

Pink and grey cream textured limestone with

shale partings.

Khatpul Formation

Massive dolomite with sporadic quartzites

and a thin red shale at the base.

Shali Group

Mainly pink and purple, also white, quartzites

Khaira Formation
Brick red shale and siltstone with grey
dolomite in lower horizon.
Ropri Formation
Sundernagar
Formation with
Mandi-Darla
Volcanics

Quartzites and shales with contemporaneous

basic lava flows.

The project area lies in zone V as per the seismic zonation map of India. The largest
earthquake experienced in the region was at Kangra in 1905 at an epicentral distance of
100 Km NW of the site. This earthquake had a Richter Magnitude of 8.0 and is considered
to be associated with the Satlitta Thrust Fault. The dam site is located in the north-east
border region of the active frontal folded and thrusted belt of the Himalayas, bounded by
the main Boundary Fault towards the north-east and the Barsar and its homologous thrusts
to the south east. The necessary seismic coefficients based MCE and DBE conditions
have been incorporated in the design of various project components.

Contributed by Sanjiv Kumar,

Northern Region

Geological Survey of India

At the location of major project components, rocks of Tatapani Member (dolomite) and
Sorgharwari Member (limestone) of Shali Formation and phyllite belonging to Basantpur
Formation are exposed along with basic intrusives. Pink limestone unit (Sorgharwari
Formation), transition zone and Upper dolomite unit (Tatapani Formation) are exposed in
the dam foundation. The general trend of the bedding joints recorded is N10W S10E,
which is ~20 askew to dam axis, with 70-80 dip due southwest direction.
MAJOR CONTRIBUTIONS BY THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA DURING
CONSTRUCTION STAGE: GSI has played very vital role in the finalizing the layout of the
project during investigation stage. The construction stage investigations which started from
F.S. 2000-2001 are being continued during FS 2010-12. Major part of geotechnical work
including advice of foundation treatment, foundation clearance etc, has been carried out by
GSI in all the components of the project. The following are the main contributions of GSI at
the Kol Dam Project: -

RESERVOIR RIM ANALYSIS: In 2002 M/s Electricite De France (EDF), the designers of
the project advised for the change in the type of dam from earth and rock fill to face
symmetric hard fill dam. This was done fearing a possibility of Vajoint Type failure in the
reservoir area of Kol Dam. This was contested by Geological Survey of India. The reservoir
area of Kol Dam Project was examined jointly along with EDF experts. During the reservoir
traverses the area was examined in detail and geotechnical details of the area were
explained in detail with views of GSI on the same to the EDF experts. It was concluded
that Vajoint type dam failure is not likely and the dam design needs no change on
account of this thus saving lot of time and cost for the project.
DIVERSION TUNNELS: In diversion tunnels of the Kol Dam Project, which are of 16.5m
diameter (excavate) rib supports were provided by the designers, EDF, in the entire
tunnel based on the value of competency factor, taken as ratio of compression strength of
rockmass over state of stress in the foundation before excavation of the rock mass. During
the excavation of heading portion the rock mass classification was carried out along with
calculation of competency factor as per the formula given in construction drawing by the
designer i.e. EDF, France. Based on the competency factor formula of the designer almost
entire tunnel was to be supported by steel ribs. The author calculated the competency
factor by another empirical relation proposed by Hoek (Hoek, 2000) which clearly indicated
that the rib supports are not required in majority of the reach of diversion tunnels. Based on

Contributed by Sanjiv Kumar,

Northern Region

Geological Survey of India

the conclusions of the report of the GSI rib supports were reduced by ~50% by the
designer which resulted in saving cost and time of more than Rupees ten crores for the
project.

MAIN DAM: In main dam core foundation seepage detailed geological mapping of main
dam core base on 1:100 scale has been carried out. Pink limestone unit (Sorgharwari
Formation), transition zone and Upper dolomite unit (Tatapani Formation) are exposed in
the core base. The general trend of the bedding joints recorded is N10W S10E, which
is ~20 askew to dam axis, with 70-80 dip due southwest direction. Bedding joint is the
most dominant joint set. Bedding shears and low dipping open joints (mainly on left
abutment) containing infilled material have been recorded at the foundation grade for
which necessary dental treatment was recommended. In the weak features dental
treatment (3-4d where d is the width of the weak zone) was advised and was got executed
at site before geologically accepting the foundation. In low dipping long continuity
joints/shears apart from dental treatment contact grouting and additional grout holes were
advised along these features after completion of caulking. Blanket grouting of the entire
core base foundation was carried out with depth varying from 6m to 12m at 1.77m c/c
spacing.
In the main dam left abutment water seepage from clay core nearby abutment occurred in
June 2007 when dam was raised to ~25m from its deepest foundation level. The seepage
was of the order of ~100lpm which gradually reduced to very less after ~ 5-6 hours after
rain, which occurred on 14.06.07. The seepage was from transition zone rock due to
abutment surcharge. It was advised to excavate a 5m deep trench 5m on either side of
seepage area. A low dip joint with empty, more than 1m, grout pipes (four) left for contact
grouting were recorded in the trench. Also one already grouted hole grout hole (6TU 37)
was found empty more than 2.25m when cleaned with air jet. From the observations made
path of water seepage was inferred to be through the grout pipes left (El. 492m) in the low
dip joint and water has traveled along the rock clay core contact through the clay and
oozed out as a boil at El. 495m. Some investigations were advised by GSI however the
trench was closed by the project authorities in consultation with EDF experts Seepage was
again recorded during subsequent rains in June and July 2007. It was decided by the
designers to remove clay in the affected reach.

Contributed by Sanjiv Kumar,

Northern Region

Geological Survey of India

After the removal of clay core material, which was completed in January 2008, the path of
percolation which GSI apprehended in June 2007 was proved to be correct and agreed to
by all the experts.
Problem of rock slide on right abutment of Main Dam: A rockslide occurred on the right
abutment of main dam in area upstream of core base in January 2006 affecting rock mass
from El. 625m to El.535m. Pink Limestone with thin shale partings is exposed in the area.
The failure mechanism inferred was a combination of initial toppling failure limiting to a
wedge failure along the discontinuities dipping 45-55 due N75-80E and 65-75 due
northerly direction. The factors, which played significant role in the slide, apart from the
rock mass condition were not providing of supports, increasing height of the slope cut
without benches, blasting activity at the toe of slope and no pre-splitting in the 1:1 slope cut
excavated. The detached mass was advised to be removed from the top with provision of
benches at suitable interval ~15m along with slope stabilization measures. Again a slide
occurred in the same area between El. 535m and El. 523m involving ~50 cum. Failure
along easterly and northeasterly dipping joints had been observed in the slide area.
Remedial measures like suitable changes in core geometry in order to minimize excavation
(and steep slope cuts) in the upstream side, providing shotcrete (80mm) along wire mesh,
providing supports in stages of every 3m before lowering down to next stage and
mandatory pre-splitting was advised to project authorities. The rockslide has been
successfully tackled on the basis of above mentioned suggestions of GSI. In Gallery no. 11
terrace material was encountered ~R.D. 296m which was not envisaged earlier.
Approximate extent of terrace material has been inferred based on the earlier geological
data and field traverses to ~30-40m in extent which proved to be correct.

Other

consultants of project predicted terrace material to continue throughout the excavated

length.
SPILLWAY: In a portion of spillway chute where Dolomite of Tatapani Formation is overlain
by Sherpa terrace deposits, during initial excavations it was observed that rock profile is
much lower than that envisaged in construction drawing. This palaeochannel could not be
detected during investigation stage as the GSI recommendation of doing exploratory
boreholes was not followed. Calcareous cementation was observed in the Shearpa terrace
at a number of places. With the help of two boreholes and geological mapping of the area it
was inferred by the author that a deeper channel of river Satluj, in Sherpa terrace, exists
which crosses the spillway roughly in a northerly direction (refer fig. 6). The deepest level in

Contributed by Sanjiv Kumar,

Northern Region

Geological Survey of India

the channel was inferred to be at El. 585m. This inference was confirmed during the
subsequent drill holes (fifteen nos) recommended by EDF experts, design consultant of the
project, from which the deepest level inferred is at El. 582m whereas the design foundation
level of chute slab is at El. 599m.
Design consultant M/s EDF, France advised to remove all the terrace material encountered
and backfill with mass concrete up to the design foundation level (El.599m) which
involved an additional expenditure of ~Rs 50 crores. The maximum depth of river borne
material proven by drilling was 15m below the foundation grade. NTPC design on the basis
of geotechnical properties of terrace material encountered at foundation grade decided to
found spillway chute on the same without any treatment. GSI view was sought by project
authorities when they were about to release the construction drawings for founding the
chute slab on terrace material without any treatment. The author recommended doing the
extensive grouting of the entire terrace material in order to

make it impervious and a homogenous mass so that it behaves as good as rock

and free flow of seepage is impeded

prevent possible migration of fines in the terrace material during operational stage.

This recommendation of GSI was been accepted as a solution and implemented by

project authorities thus saving ~Rs 40 crores.

POWER HOUSE: The foundation of the surface powerhouse has been geologically
mapped in detail and has been laid on sound rock after treatment of weak features on the
GSI advice. On the slope cuts of the power house excavation thick silty sand band having
pebbles layers was encountered. In the construction drawing only 300mm thick rip rap
was provided. Basic design of slope protection of the same was suggested by RG, GSI
which was accepted and implemented at site. The slope protection design recommended
was stone masonry (~500mm thick) at 4mx4m spacing along with 300mm thick riprap
within the panels as depicted in the schematic sketch. This has been accepted,
implemented at site and is working well.

Contributed by Sanjiv Kumar,

Northern Region

Geological Survey of India

TATAPANI HOT SPRINGS

Tatapani hot springs, at its current location, are coming in the submergence of reservoir of
Kol Dam. As per the MOU between NTPC Ltd and Govt. of H.P these springs were to be
relocated to maintain the sanctity of Tatapani as a pilgrimage place and to harness its
tourism potential. For relocation of hot springs project authorities were to spend more than
36 lakhs in geophysical surveys in order to demarcate the possible drilling locations but
GSI recommended for drilling locations based on results of geological mapping and
previous work carried out by GSI.

Geological mapping of an area of 0.1sqkm on 1:1500 scale was carried out. The rocks
belonging to Shali Formation, Basantpur Formation and basic intrusives are exposed in the
mapped area along with alluvial deposits of river Satluj and vegetation covered area. The
rocks of Basantpur Formation consists of shale, dark grey carbonaceous shale, siltstone,
limestone and dolomite. The Shali Formation comprised of grey to dark grey dolomite with
interbedded shale and slates. The contact between the two formations is thrusted one
(Shali thrust, Srikantia 1964) which is concealed. On the basis of disposition of geological

Contributed by Sanjiv Kumar,

Northern Region

Geological Survey of India

features, geothermal water emanations (natural & through drill holes), FRL of Kol, Dam
reservoir level etc the location of drill holes was suggested. In order to get good discharge
and temperature the 350m deep drill holes were suggested. Thermal water under artisan
condition was encountered at ~100-150m depth in all the three drill holes drilled thus
suitably relocating Tatapani Hotsprings above FRL of Kol Dam. The temperature
encountered is 45C and the total discharge observed was ~150 lpm. One temple is under
advance stage of construction nearby the location of boreholes. Hot baths would be
constructed by the project authorities in this area.

Various features at Kol Dam Area

Contributed by Sanjiv Kumar,

Northern Region

Geological Survey of India

Layout Plan of Project

Contributed by Sanjiv Kumar,

Northern Region

Geological Survey of India

10

Contributed by Sanjiv Kumar,

Northern Region

Geological Survey of India

Earthquake epicenter distribution around Kol Dam along with regional tectonic features

11

Contributed by Sanjiv Kumar,

Northern Region