Vulnerability assessment of the Satluj catchment for sustainable development of hydroelectric projects in the northwestern Himalaya

Hydropower if scientifically developed is considered to be one of the clean and non-polluted renewable energy sources. But its impacts always exist on physical and social environment of the area. The present study was conducted in the River Satluj basin which is well known for its hydropower potential. The main objective of the study was to understand the vulnerability of the Satluj basin and to develop a strategy for the development of hydropower projects. This basin has been facing many problems relating to construction of haphazard development of hydropower projects. This has led multi-hazards like landslides, floods, earthquakes, etc. Here, vulnerability assessment index was assessed quantitatively and qualitatively. Geographical Information System and peoples’ perception were used to study these aspects in the basin. The parameters considered for vulnerability assessment were slope, slope profile, relative relief, curvature, slope aspect, soil texture, lithology, river morphometry, precipitation, hydroelectric projects, land use and land cover, mass-movement, flood, geological elements and earthquake occurrences. The highest vulnerability was found in the middle zone, and finally on the basis of parameters analyzed; the hydropower’s development strategy was developed.