Cumulative impacts of hydropower in the Kuri-Gongri Basin

Cumulative impacts of hydropower in the Kuri-Gongri Basin
Client

Department of Hydropower and Power Systems (DoHPS), MoEA

Location

Bhutan

Duration

July 2017 – July 2018

Services provided

Environmental and Social Management

A study on the cumulative impacts of hydropower in the Kuri-Gongri River Basin, which hosts almost half of Bhutan's total hydropower potential. An inventory of all major water uses was conducted for the basin, covering hydropower, agriculture and water supply as well as environmental, social and cultural purposes, with the cumulative impacts of water uses and infrastructure development studied and quantified.

Outcomes

We delivered the following solutions to ensure compliance:

  • Provided 30% of the project expertise through five consultants: an environmental consultant, a social safeguards consultant, a hydrologist, GIS/mapping/survey expertise, and a hydropower engineer.
  • Conducted an inventory of all major water uses — hydropower, agriculture/irrigation, drinking water supply, and environmental, social and cultural purposes; cumulative impacts were studied, mapped and quantified.
  • Conducted household- and gewog-level surveys across Trashigang, Pema Gatshel, Mongar, Lhuentse, Zhemgang, Bumthang, Trongsa and Trashi Yangtse, along with key informant interviews.
  • Undertook secondary literature reviews to assess the cumulative environmental, socioeconomic, gender, cultural and developmental impacts of hydropower development within the basin.