Cs Ken Betwa

Geological Survey of India
Contributed by R. L. Sahu, Central Region

KEN-BETWA LINK PROJECT A CASE STUDY

INTRODUCTION

The fast growing population has put tremendous pressure on earths natural resources
including water. Water is an important input for survival and sustenance of life. The demand of
this natural gift has been increasing exponentially. Major source of water in any region is a
network of rivers fed either my monsoon rain or snow melt during summer. Based on various
geo-environmental factors, monsoon rain does not seem to be uniformly distributed in space
and time. This results in regional imbalance and maldistribution of water severely affecting the
socio-economic and political scenario of the area. For optimum utilization of available water
resources, the concept of interlinking of rivers was put forth from time to time for rational
distribution and transfer of surplus water available in some regions to water deficit areas. But
due credence was not given by the Government on techno-economic reasons. However, the
same idea again gained momentum in recent years leading to adoption of National Water Policy
(NWP) by the Union Government emphasizing the need for inter-basin transfer of water in view
of the presence of several water surplus and deficit areas with in the country.

Thirty (30) interlinking river schemes have been identified in the Indian territory (Fig.1).
On completion of all these, additional irrigation potential of about 35 million hectare would be
added over the existing 140 million hectare part from the benefits of additional hydropower,
flood control, water supply, fisheries, navigation, salinity and pollution control etc. Of these, Ken-
Betwa link and Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal link schemes fall in M.P. and the adjoining areas of
U.P. and Rajsthan respectively

The Ken river, which originates at an elevation of 550 m from the Kaimur Range near
Ahirgawan village in J abalpur district (M.P.) flows northwards for a total length of 427 km and
joins the Yamuna river near Chilla village in U.P. at an elevation of 95 m with a number of sub-
tributaries on both the flanks. The total length of the river is 427 km, of which 292 km lies in
M.P., 84 km in U.P. and 51 km forms the common boundary between the two states. Out of the
total catchment area of 28058 sq km, 24472 sq km lies in M.P. and the remaining 3586 sq km in
U.P. The river valley has many favourable sites for construction of dams / barrages and power
houses. The Betwa river is one of the major rivers of the State, originating from Barkheda village
in Raisen district, M.P. Rising at an elevation of about 576 m, it flows in a north easterly
direction and joins the Yamuna river near Hamirpur in U.P. at an elevation of 106 m. The total
length of the river is 590 km of which 232 km lies in M.P. and the balance 358 km in U.P. The
river drains a total catchment area of 43895 sq km of which 30217 sq km falls in M.P. and the
remaining 13678 sq km lies in U.P. For harnessing the vast potential, several multipurpose
projects have been commissioned in its middle reaches both in M.P. and U.P. (Fig. 2).

LAYOUT AND SALIENT FEATURES

On the instance of the nodal agency National Water Development Agency (NWDA),
under the Ministry of Water Resources, Geological Survey of India, Bhopal was associated with
geological investigations of KB Link Scheme for the preparation of DPR. Proposed in the
Bundelkhand region of M.P. & U.P. (Fig.2), the scheme envisages trans-valley diversion of a
surplus yield of 1020 M cu m of the Ken river to the Betwa river for the development of the
command area (about 3.70 lac ha) enroute of the main canal and also proposed under the Ken
multipurpose project (KMPP) on the left flank of the Ken river in Chhatarpur district of M.P. and
Banda district of U.P. besides domestic and industrial water supply and also to enrich the
capacity of the Parichha weir across the Betwa river at the fag end of the main canal.

The project broadly comprises (i) a 73.80 m high and 2040 m long composite dam
across the Ken river near Daudhan village (TS No. 54 P/14) in Chhatarpur district to hold
storage of about 2775 M cu m of water at FRL (287 m), (ii) a toe power house of 60 MW
installed capacity, (iii) a 2 km long upper level diversion tunnel to transmit the designed head
discharge of 72 cumecs of water for irrigation, (iv) a 1.2 km long lower level tunnel with a power
house of 12 MW installed capacity at the exit end and (v) 231.45 km long left bank main canal
with a total of 59 cross drainage structures to facilitate enroute irrigation of about 47000 ha area
in Chhatarpur and Tikamgarh districts of M.P. and Banda, Hamirpur and J hansi districts of U.P.
This main canal would release its unused discharge (659 M cu m) into the Barua Sagar at its tail
end which, in turn, would be diverted into the Betwa river through a natural stream leading to
Parichha weir (Fig.2). This 659 M cu m of supplemented water will be utilized for irrigation in
about 1.27 lac ha area in the upper reaches of the Betwa river falling under the command of 4
proposed barrage projects, namely Makoriya, Richhan, Barari and Kesari by way of substitution
(Fig.2).

GEOLOGICAL SETTING

Regional Geology : The KB link project is located in the Bundelkhand region of M.P. and U.P.
which is characterized by highly rugged and undulatory topography comprising extensive plains,
linear long ridges and clusters of isolated hills ranging in height from 400 m to 600 m and
dissected bad land along the river course. The general gradient of slope is towards north.

The region is flanked by the great Indo-Gangetic alluvial plains in the north and the
Sone-Narmada-Tapti Lineament zone (SONATA) in the south and south east (Fig.1&2). It is
occupied by litho-assemblages of various geological formations ranging in age from the
Archaean to Quaternary period. The major part of the area is composed essentially of
variegated granite and granite gneisses with enclaves of metasediments and metabasics
belonging to the Bundelkhand Granitoid Complex. These are intruded by NNE-SSW to N-S
trending huge quartz reefs and dolerite dyke swarms. The gneissic-granitic suite of rocks are
overlain by ENE-WSW trending volcano-sedimentary sequence of the Bijawar Group and
intracratonic, platformal, orthoquartzite-carbonate sequence of the Vindhyan Supergroup in the
southern and western parts. The lacustrine Lameta Group of rocks and the overlying flood
basalt of the Deccan Trap Province cover the Bijawar-Vindhyan rocks at various levels. Soil and
alluvium of the Quaternary-Recent period is mostly confined along the banks of the major rivers.
The stratigraphic succession in the project area is given in Table-1.

Table-1
Stratigraphic succession in Ken-Betwa link project

Stratigraphic status Major lithology Age Project / Components
Unclassified Alluvium / Laterite Quaternary
Recent
Entire Project
Deccan Trap Complex Basaltic flows, intrusives
and intertrappean beds
Upper Cretaceous Barari and Kesari
barrages
Lameta Group Sandstone, shale,
limestone, claystone and
marl
Upper Cretaceous -

Vindhyan
-Bhander
Group
-Rewa
Group
Sandstone, shale and
limestone
Sandstone and Shale

Neoproterozoic

Daudhan and Makoriya
dam site and the entire
submergence area,
Power House No.1 and
Supergroup -Kaimur
Group
-Semri
Group
Conglomerate, sandstone
and shale
Conglomerate, quartzite,
sandstone, limestone,
porcellanite and shale
Mesoprotelrozoic tunnels

Bijawar Group
Phosphorite.
Chert breccia, shale and
dolomite.
Basal volcanics,
conglomerate, quartzite
and slaty shale.

Palaeo Meso
Proterozoic
Power House No.2 and
main link canals, Tunnels.

Bundelkhand Granitoid
Complex (BGC)
Basic dykes
Quartz reef, pegmatite
veins
Granites in multiple
phases
Gneissic complexes with
enclaves of
metasediments and
metabasics.

Archaean to
Palaeoproterozoic
Entire LBC link canal and
the command area.

Structure and tectonics: The Bundelkhand Granitoid Complex (BGC) in the project area is
characterized by the presence of two distinct structural trends, namely NE-SW and NW-SE
(Fig.4). Several faults, lineaments and ductile shear zones traverse along these structural
grains. Surface trace of these elements is manifested in the form of linear granite plutons,
quartz reefs and basic dykes forming high relief in the area. Major rivers / nallas follow the
above tectonic trends. The overlying Bijawar and Vindhyan basins display a dominant ENE-
WSW to E-W trend. The litho-assemblages in these basins are largely un-deformed except
along the basin margins where syn-sedimentational and post depositional folding, faulting and
steep dips with local inversions due to vertical movements have been noticed. Away from the
basin margins, the dips are very shallow and sub-horizontal. Basal sequences are known to
contain significant proportion of mafic magmatism (dyke swarms in Bijawar basin) and acid
volcanics (porcellanite formation in the Vindhyan basin). The contact between the basement
complex and the cover rocks is unconformable which is marked by polymictic conglomerate /
chert breccia or basic volcanics.

Seismicity and Neotectonism : Seismotectonically, the Bundelkhand area is a stable land
mass with a history of least tectonic disturbance. This is evidenced by the absence of mega
lineaments, regional faults or folds in the project area. The fabrics of intermediate and micro
lineaments present in the area do not have any definite pattern signifying their non-alignment
with the known major tectonic elements of the Peninsular India. None of the lineaments present
in the region is considered to be seismogenic. The Precambrian seismicity (c. 3.6 1.6 Ga) is
charcterised by ductile mobility with the initiation of shear zones, mylonitic foliation,
emplacement of granite plutons, quartz reefs and basic dykes and several fabrics of faults /
fractures in the basement rocks while the later reactivations during Bijawar, Vindhyan,
Gondwana and Deccan Volcanism have been in the brittle regime as indicated by initiation of
fault-bound Bijawar, Vindhyan and Gondwana basins and associated clastic sedimentation of
the Lametas.

In regional scale, the proposed lay-out of the KB link project is surrounded by the
SONATA Lineament zone in the south, Aravalli-Delhi mobile belt in the west, Himalayan
orogenic belt in the north and north east and the Indo-Burmese arc in the east. Hence, the
project area has continuously been experiencing the fringe effect of seismic activity taking place
in above areas and seismo-tectonic damage / hazards in accordance with the range of
isoseismals. The isoseismals of the recent J abalpur Earthquake of 22
nd
May, 1997 (M6) is
drawn in Fig.4. As per the seismic zoning map of India (1990), the KB link scheme falls under
seismic zone II which signifies low seismic event not exceeding M3 and hence the
seismotectonic hazards would be correspondingly minimum. Site specific studies, carried out by
the earthquake engineering department of the Roorkee University have recommended a
seismic coefficient of 0.11 g in the designs of the structures.

GEOTECHNICAL EXPLORATIONS AND ASSESSMENT

Main dam site : In feasibility stage investigations, number of alternative alignments were
explored for deciding the suitable location of the main dam upstream and down stream of the
existing Gangau weir across the Ken river. On geotechnical considerations, the location of the
main dam was finalized near the Daudhan village 2.5 km upstream of the Gangau weir with
spillway section on the left flank due to availability of foundation grade rock at the surface (Fig.
2&3). In this proposal, the provision of approach and spill channels involving deep cutting of
rocks was not made. In DPR stage investigation, it was therefore considered necessary to
explore the possibility of providing spillway at the centre of the river where maximum depth of
river is available. The central spillway will not need any approach channel. It would also facilitate
in construction of surface power house at the toe of the dam. Finally, it was decided to work out
the techno-economic viability of both the alternatives and choose the best of the two for DPR.

Subsequent exploration by large scale mapping and drilling revealed that the side
spillway proposed on the left flank is preferable to central spillway due to presence of competent
foundation grade strata at much higher elevation with sufficient spread to house the structure
(Fig.5&6). In river bed, by virtue of the dip slope, the same competent rock strata is interpreted
at much deeper depth of 18-28 m. The overlying bed rocks available at shallow depth in the Ken
river section is not sufficiently competent due to frequent shaly intercalations.

Dam site geology : At the dam site the Ken river flows in a broad open valley with rising gentle
slope on its flanks displaying elevation between 216 m (lowerst river bed level) and 450 m (right
abutment hill). Large scale geological mapping and results of 26 exploratory drill holes along the
axis of the Daudhan dam have revealed that the dam alignment is occupied by an inter-bedded
sequence of sub-horizontally disposed hard, massive sandstone, siltstone / flagstone and shale
intercalations mapped as litho units 1,2,3 and 4 in stratigraphic succession (Fig. 5&6). A
considerable part of the dam alignment is covered with flood plain deposits forming terraces on
either side of the river (lithounit No.5). These rocks belong to the lower sequence of the Semri
Group of the Vindhayn Supergroup. They exhibit a general ENE-WSW trend with shallow (5-
10) dips in SSE direction. The above lithounits are traversed by 3 prominent mutually
perpendicular joints trending (i) ENE-WSW, (ii) NW-SE and (iii) NE-SW rendering them blocky /
platy in nature. The beds gradually flatten towards the right flank. The joints which are generally
open and clay filled on surface gradually tend to tighten with depth. They have considerable
influence on the structure of the project.

Reservoir area: Systematic geological / geotechnical studies of about 90 sq km reservoir area
under submergence of the Daudhan dam have suggested congenial condition from reservoir
tightness point of view. Occupied by the Vindhyan sequence, the slopes and escarpments in the
reservoir area are by and large stable due to gentle gradient and favourable disposition of joints.
No landslide, fossil slides, rock falls or debrio slides have been reported in the area. There are
no saddles in the topography for escaping water to the adjoining basin needing auxillary
structure. Similarly, no significant inter-fluve pervious horzon of water divide is present in the
submergence area. Lithocontracts, plane of stratification and frequent joints in the bed rocks are
some of the geological weaknesses which may account for some loss of water but appears to
be within the permissible limit due to above favourable topography. As a result, no significant
leakage / seepage is anticipated through the reservoir rim. No major mineral deposits of
economic value occur in the area. No any archeological site of historical importance has been
reported in the submergence area. The reservoir area falls under seismic zone II which signifies
low seismic shocks not exceeding M3 and hence the seismic hazards would be corresponding
to intensity V and IV. Possibility of occurrence of earthquake of higher magnitude in the life span
of the project can not be ruled out.

Foundation assessment

Daudhan dam : Prevailing geomorphic / geological set up at site strongly favoured the
location of the spillway on the left flank due to occurrence of foundation grade hard, massive
sandstone on the surface with very good geotechnical features (mapped as lithounit No.1). The
overlying lithounits (lithounit No. 2, 3 & 4) having gradational nature occur in the middle and
right side of the Daudhan dam (Fig.5&6) are geotechnically considered to be inferior on strength
characteristics and hence unsuitable for foundation of heavy structures. However, for earthen
embankments they form good foundation media. Permeability tests carried out in drill holes
indicated semi pervious to impervious nature of above lithounits.

The major foundation problems anticipated are presence of shale bands / partings in
massive sandstone unit (litho unit No.1), jointed nature of rock mass, pinching / swelling
character and selective deeper weathering in inter-bedded siltstone / flagstone shale
sequence of lithounit No.2 occurring in the Ken river section and presence of open,
interconnected cavities in chert breccia with dolomitic intercalations in lithounit No.4 forming the
right abutment hill (Fig. 5&6). These features under impoundment of the reservoir are expected
to pose problems of differential settlement, sliding , leakage, and uplift and piping through the
foundation. To avert these problems, the structure will require provisions of clay blanket,
consolidation and curtain grouting, dental treatment of clay filled joints and shear zones and
suitable drainage arrangements etc. For earthen embankments design of proper slopes and
berms will also be needed.

Power house No. 1: Proposed between RD 700 m and 800 m at the toe of the dam, the
open pit power house and allied structures (HRC, TRC and retaining walls etc.) will be located
in lithounit No.1 (Fig. 3,5&6) by virtue of their position on the left flank. The beds of the lithounit
strike at acute angles with the longer axis of the proposed power house. About 15-50 m thick
explored stratigraphic column of this lithounit comprises hard, well jointed, massive sandstone
with shaly partings. It is geotechnically considered to be competent for the proposed power
house and other structures due to favourable engineering attributes. RMR quality assessment
(RMR 47 71) suggests Fair to Very Good category of rock mass.

Major foundation problems apprehended are presence of frequent shaly partings, open,
clay filled joints in mutually perpendicular orientation and selective deeper weathering in the
rock mass. These adverse features are expected to cause three-fold problems of leakage and
piping, settlement and sliding along potential planes filled with clayey-gougy material
necessitating site specific remedial measures for improvement in the bearing capacity and
modulus of elasticity. Deep rock cutting for power house pit, HRC and TRC would generate a
number of slope faces requiring their stability by adopting suitable slope angles and berms at
regular heights supported by strengthening measures of rock bolting and shotcreting etc.

Power House No. 2 : The power house No. 2 is located at the exit end of lower level
tunnel which happens to fall at the foot of the east-west trending ridge. The proposed area is
mostly covered by scree and slope wash materials with elevations varying between 240 m and
260 m. Scanning of data gathered through geological mapping and exploratory drilling has
revealed that the proposed site is occupied by an inter-bedded sequence of slaty shale and
quartzitic sandstone belonging to the Bijawar Group of rocks. They exhibit a general east-west
trend with moderate (15-30) dips towards south. These rocks are traversed by 5 8 sets of
subvertical to vertical joints giving rise to blocky / platy nature to the bed rocks.

Major foundation problems anticipated are on account of (i) presence of inter-bedded
sequence of contrasting bearing strengths with mutually intersecting vertical joints prone to
creep / minor rock slides and gravity falls, (ii) number of shear zones / fracture zones with
selective deeper weathering along them likely to pose problems of seepage and settlement and
(iii) suspected sliding (instability) along the contacts of soft, fissile shale, siltstone and quartzitic
sandstone etc during construction. In view of the above, suitable site specific, preventive
measures may be adopted in the designs against shear failure of the structure.

Upper level tunnel : About 2300 m long and 5 m dia horse shoe upper level tunnel
(elevation between 261 m and 256 m) has been envisaged in the initial reach of the left bank
main link canal to transmit the designed discharge from the Ken river to the Betwa river. The
tunnel has the rock cover varying between 10 m and 120 m. Geological section (Fig.7) revealed
that the tunnel passes through a variety of rocks belonging to the Bijawar Group and the Semi
Group of the Vindhyan Supergroup. The contact between them is unconformable which is
marked by a thick (100 m) conglomerate horizon. From inlet to exit portal, the tunneling media
constitutes hard, thickly bedded quartzitic sandstone followed by the above conglomeratic
horizon covering about half (1170 m) of the length of the tunnel. In downstream direction, it
constitutes hard, foliated quartzite in 80 m tunnel length followed by sheared rock mass with a
very poor geotechnical parameters in a 275 m length of the tunnel, inter-bedded sequence of
red, slaty shale and sandstone covering about 325 m length and hard, foliated quartzite in the
rest of the 450 m length of the tunnel in the exit portal end. The above tunneling grades have
also been assessed on RMR classification for prognosticating excavation methodology and
support requirements.

The Bijawar sequence in view of their foliated to thinly bedded nature, frequent presence
of shear zone / fracture zone with enclosure of clayey / gougy / sheared products and selective
deeper weathering may pose serious problems of leakage, excessive over breaks, and gravity
fall leading to formation of deep cavities /chimneys in the tunnel roof necessitating adequate,
site specific support measures during tunneling.

Lower level tunnel : About 1400 m long and 5 m dia horse shoe lower level tunnel
(elevation between 249 m and 244 m) has been envisaged in the initial reach to transmit the
designed discharge from the Ken reservoir to command area (Fig.2). The rock cover above the
tunnel varied from 20 100 m. Geological section revealed that the tunnel passes through the
same formations of the Bijawar Group and Semri Group as interpreted in upper level tunnel.
From inlet to exit portal, the tunneling media includes hard, massive sandstone followed by thick
pebbly conglomeratic horizon both covering about 57% (800 m) length of the tunnel. Further
downstream, it constitutes slaty shale with inter-bands of sandstone and quartzite in the rest of
the 600 m tunnel length in the exit portal end (Fig.8). The above tunneling grades have also
been assessed on RMR classification for prognosticating excavation methodology and support
system. As anticipated, the Bijawars may pose the same tunneling problems requiring suitable,
site specific support measures.

Makoriya dam : The proposed Makoriya dam site is an alternative upstream option of
the discarded Neemkhera dam site across the Betwa river. Located 7 km up-stream, the Betwa
river at dam site flows in a shallow, open valley displaying elevation between 416 m and 445 m
respectively. Geological mapping and results of 7 drill holes have revealed that the bed rocks of
hard, massive sandstone exposed at abutment hills above RL 430 m is covered up to 22 m thick
overburden along the dam axis (Fig. 9). Belonging to the Vindhyan Supergroup, the beds of the
sandstone exhibit sub-horizontal, rolling dips. Besides widely spaced bedding joints, 2 mutually
perpendicular joints trending NW-SE and NE-SW are frequently present rendering blocky nature
to the bedrocks. These joints play significant role in deciding the stability and tightness of the
reservoir.

The 15-21 m explored depth of bed rock below the overburden exhibits continuity of
sandstone with occasional shaly partings. Geotechnically it is considered to be very competent
rock mass for founding major structures. Foundation /cut off grade has been interpreted
between 4 m and 23 m (RL 430.39 398.49 m) from the ground surface. Foundation problems
anticipated are presence of shaly partings, jointed nature of rock mass with clayey fillings and
selective deeper weathering in bed rocks. These features are likely to pose problems of
seepage, settlement and sliding of the structure requiring adequate measures in design to
improve rock mass quality as well as drainage arrangements etc.

Other structures : A large number of structures such as Barari and Kesari barrages
downstream of Makoriya dam (Fig.2) and important cross drainage structures like aqueducts,
drainage syphons, railway and road crossings and deep canal sections along the main link
canal and LBC and RBC of Mokariya, Barari and Kesari barrages were also explored by drilling.
Tentative foundation grade and other geotechnical inputs for each structures were deciphered
to cater the needs of the preparatory designs.

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

The Ken-Betwa link project is one of the important 30 link schemes proposed in the
Indian territory. Located in a geologically stable province of the Bundelkhand Craton, the
scheme envisages construction of 4 storage dams across the Ken and Betwa rivers, 2 power
houses of 72 MW installed capacity and more than 200 km long inter-basin link canal including
more than 3 km of tunneling and a number of cross drainage structures.

Whereas the reconnaissance geological investigations helped to optimize the type and
quantum of explorations for a variety of structures wherever they were proposed, detailed
investigation by geological mapping and drilling proved the suitability of the side spillway of the
Daudhan main dam on the left bank of the ken river by evaluation of foundation media with the
slate of the art and existing practices in geotechniques. Similarly, the spillway of the Makoriya
dam on the right flank section of the structure would be preferable to central spillway on account
of availability of hard, massive sandstone at much higher elevation than the river section. Based
on studies of site specific surface and subsurface geological data of other major components
such as toe power house No.1 down stream of the Daudhan dam, upper level tunnel linking the
Ken lake with that of the inter-basin left bank main canal, lower level tunnel with power house
No. 2 at the exit end, Barari, and Kesari barrages and a large number of CD structures, it can be
concluded that the entire spread of the scheme is geotechnically feasible both on regional and
local geological considerations. However, presence of frequent shaly horizons, local influence of
density and orientation of joints, shear / fracture or fault zones, mechanical behaviour of various
litho units, effect of deeper and selective weathering and ground water condition are some of
the anticipated geotechnical features which govern the safety and stability of the structures
requiring adequate treatment measures in designs during construction.

The optimization in exploratory programme at a number of structures of the scheme and
modifications suggested by GSI in the lay out of the Daudhan and Makoriya dams have been
accepted by the project authorities where DPR stage investigations were continued and
assessment of foundation was made to cater the needs of the designers. This will result in
considerable savings in terms of time and cost involved in deep excavation and back filling both
in the spillway and earthen flank sections on either side






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Cs Ken Betwa

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