International Journal For Technological Research In Engineering
Volume 2, Issue 11, July-2015
RIVER DIVERSION OF TEESTA-V- A CASESTUDY
B.K. Ojha, Ex. Chief Engineer (Civil), NHPC
ABSTRACT: Teesta stage-V hydroelectric project (510
MW) is located in the Himalayan state of Sikkim and is part
of six stage cascade development of Teesta Basin. The
diversion arrangement for 92m high concrete gravity dam
comprises of two tunnels of finished diameter 12.20m and
upstream and downstream coffer dam constructed across
the river to divert the river flow during monsoon and non-
monsoon season both.As the river bed excavation was to be
done up to 45m below the river bed level, the foundation of
upstream and downstream cofferdam was jet grouted to
achieve near impermeability in the dam excavation area.
This Jet grouting technique was implemented for the first
time in India in this project only. The diversion
arrangement and cofferdam withstood the monsoon flood
of 2003 which was more than the design flood. Extensive
damage occurred in the upstream cofferdam and
negotiating this monstrous over discharge was quite a
challenges. This paper gives an overview of layout of
Diversion arrangement and Jet grouting works, its
operation construction sequence and problems faced
during2003 flood and counter measures carried out to
ensure smooth operation of the diversion system.
I. INTRODUCTION
Teesta Stage-V Hydroelectric Project is a run of the river
scheme with limited storage to utilize the power potential of
the river for a length of 25 Km between confluences of
Dikchu – Teesta River to the Tail Race outfall at Sherwani
for development of gross head of 216m to generate 2573
million units of electricity in a 90% dependable year.The
diversion dam is located about 2Kms downstream of the
confluence of river Dikchu with Teesta.
The project comprise 92m high concrete gravity dam, three
underground desilting chambers 295 (l)x 20m(h). 9.5M dia
17.8 km long headrace tunnel, 30m dia 92m deep surge shaft
4.7m dia 3 nos. pressure shafts, an underground Power House
(3x170) MW and 165m long Tail race tunnels and other
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ISSN (Online): 2347 - 4718
appurtenant works. The diversion arrangement consisted of
two Nos. Diversion tunnels 12.2 m diameter and 410m and
610m long located on the right bank. The diversion system
was designed for a discharge of 3250 Cumecs having a
return period of 1 in 30 years for flows during monsoon
season. The upstream and downstream cofferdam was
ofRock fill dam type 19m high and 160m long and of 10m
high and 60m long respectively being founded on pervious
alluvium. It has been designed for monsoon floods as well so
that reconstruction of cofferdam after each monsoon is
avoided and valuable time utilized in dam construction.
Overburdens below upstream and downstream dams have
been jet grouted with cement bentonite slurry.
The diversion tunnel-I construction was taken up in
December 2000 and diversion Tunnel-II in February 2001
and the workswere completed and river was diverted on 18th
October 2002. By doing jet grouting in river borne material
for a maximum depth of 45m below the foundation of the u/s
and d/s cofferdam, near dry condition was obtained during
river bed excavation for the concrete dam. The seepage/rain
water from the left & right abutment only got into the dam
pit which was handled with installation of two nos100HP
dewatering pumps in the season and 3 nos200HP pump
during monsoon season. The cofferdam was completed in
June 2003 and in July 2003, a very high flash flood of 3450
cumecs occurred at dam site damaging the upstream Rock
fill face and a part of central clay core, bringing the situation
to a danger of breaching of coffer dam. This necessitated
rebuilding of the u/s cofferdam with concrete facing on the
upstream face. Thereafter the river diversion was smooth
affair and project was commissioned in March 2008.
II. DIVERSION TUNNEL
A. Layout: The two nos. of circular diversion tunnel 12.20m
diameter each with a length of 473m and 610m each was
housed on the right bank with the inlet and outlet portals
being located 175m and 200m upstream and 275m & 325m
downstream of the dam axis respectively. The invert level at
the inlet has been EL 532.00m and EL 530m at outlet point.
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Volume 2, Issue 11, July-2015
Two nos. of gates of size 5mx12.5m for each tunnel was
provided to facilitate plugging before reservoir filling. Pier of
3m size has been provided to reduce the size of gate.
Photograph of inlet gate control structure is shown in figure.
B. Construction: This tunnel was excavated in heading &
benching. Further the heading excavation was done in three
part i.e. central section 8X7.5 and then side slashing the left
and right section in view of the weakerrock mass condition.
The benching excavation involved a depth of 5.2m. The
principal rock types negotiated werepylliticquartzites with
blends of Quartizites and phyllites and schists. The major
portion of this tunnel was in good to fair rock class, however
near the outlet portal, fair to poor rock mass was
encountered. Rock mass in the tunnel was variable and
foliated to blocky in nature. Foliation was the prominent set
of joint in rock mass striking perpendicular to tunnel axis.
Minor folding and warping along the foliation was observed.
After erection of ribs and establishing portal, the excavation
of DT-I from outlet was taken up in Feb 01 and after
completion of excavation up to EL+536m excavation from
inlet started in April 01. Since the beginning of excavation
from outlet face of DT-I the tunneling media encountered
was weak and occasional loosening was observed. Falling
rock pieces damaging the air and water pipe lines was a
regularly experienced. The excavated tunnel was being
supported by providing additional rock bolts and shotcreting
regularly in additional layers from RD 10 to Rd 120 from
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DT-I outlet. Near outlet portal, the rock falloccurred in
conventional left side crown due to presence of interfacial
shear and crushed rock mass. Along the shear zone loosening
of rock mass with separation of rock blockswas also
observed. Due to rock falls, most of the rock bolts were
exposed up to 3-4m. After saturation of hills and due to
lubrication of joints with seepage water, the joints were
getting released leading to rock fall. While the steel rib
erection was in progress between RD 72-100m, huge rock
fall occurred on the left side of erected verticals of ribs and
arches above it, from left side crown. One truck mounted
jumbo platform was damaged completely along with all the
erected ribs. The restoration work was immediately started.
However to make up the construction schedule it was
decided to construct a link tunnel of size 7mx7m from DT-II
(near RD 120 to DT-I finishing at RD 200m from DT-I
outlet). The length of this link tunnel was 24m which was
completed within a week and tunneling of DT-I was started
from the additional faces. The heading excavation of
Diversion Tunnel-I was completed in August 2001 and
benching by May 2002. The benching and lining was taken
up in both the tunnels and was completed in April 2002 and
June 2002 whereas the overt lining of Diversion Tunnel-I
was completed in June 2002 and invert lining by August
2002. As the September month carries lot of discharge, the
river diversion was accomplished on 18th October 2002.
III. JET GROUTING OF COFFER DAM FOUNDATION
The dam construction involved deep excavation of the river
borne material upto a depth of 45-50m. For protecting the
dam pit, two coffer dams were constructed
upstream/downstream to contain the monsoon floods during
the construction period. The foundation material below the
coffer dam was a permeable boulder material and therefore it
was planned to construct a cut off below each coffer dam for
reducing the water flows across the alluvium to an amount
that will be manageable by pumping within the main dam
excavation zone. At DPR stage, it was planned to construct a
600mm thick concrete diaphragm wall to achieve positive
cut off in the coffer dam foundation. The ground material
underlying the cofferdams was composed of permeable fine
dense sand containing blocks and boulders of fresh rock of
various sizes. The bed rock was metamorphic in nature and
was mainly composed of quartzo-phyllite with noticeable
fissure permeability. The completion of cutoff and cofferdam
was required to be completed in one non-monsoon season of
six months. Therefore during the tender stage it was decided
to have jet grouted cut off wall instead of diaphragm wall
type positive cut off below the coffer dams as diaphragm
wall/ concrete cut off could have taken longer time due to
presence of large boulders in the river bed zone. Jet grouting
is a process of hydrodynamics mixing of soil and grout in
order to form a soil- grout element within the surrounding
ground. It involves eroding of soil eroded up to the surface
with the high pressure jet (40MPa) removing a part of the
soil eroded up to the surface with the jetting fluids and
incorporating a binder( convent) in form of a grout to replace
the part of soil removed. The cut off wall composed of a
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Volume 2, Issue 11, July-2015 ISSN (Online): 2347 - 4718

series of interlocking columns of jet grouted material within Jet pressure 35-45 Mpa
an alluvium. The jet-grouting work being done first time in Grout flow: 150-300Ltr/min
the country and therefore this was undertaken through
specialized Construction Agency M/S. SoletancheBachy
France who are among the pioneer in this field.
3.1 Trial Jet grouting: - Before taking up main jet grouting
works, trial jet grouting was done at site tofinalize grouting
parameters. The trial site was located 5m u/s of upstream jet
grouted cut off wall on left bank of river at EL 541.0m. Jet
Cut-off wall was 12.5m u/s of coffer dam Axis. The trials
were done to assess the following:-
 Test the drilling, deviation measurement and jet
grouting equipment. 3.2 Main jet-grout cut off: The specialized agency M/S SBF
 Fixing the basic design parameters like input mobilized jet rigs and other equipments for main cut off in
energy, flow rate of grout, Grout pressure, uplift the month of November 2002. The sequence of work
speed Rotation speed and jet column diameter. activities undertaken at site has been:-
 Establish the construction procedure.  First Stage upstream coffer dam construction up to
 A trial shaft was made to examine the treatment EL 539.0m followed by jet grouting platform
from inside, window formation, if any and measure construction from RD 0.00-30 up to EL 540m.
the permeability.  Marking of centerline of cut off wall on individual
 Initially four nos of individual columns were done primary column locations which was kept 12.5m
as per the jet grouting parameters as below. upstream of centerline of coffer dam.
Column 1 2 3 4  Drilling of 200 dia holes.
 Measurement of inclination before withdrawal of
Grout pressure MPA 40 40 40 40 casing.
Grout flow (LPm) 225 225 225 225  Stabilization of drill holes with cement and
bentonite grout and simultaneous withdrawal of
Air pressure (Mpa) 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.7 casing.
Jet nozzle diameter 4.5 4.5 4.5 4.5  Re-drilling of holes up to final depth with jet
(mm) grouting string having tricone drill bit.
Seconds per 3 cm 10 16 22 33  Jet grouting from bottom of the hole through jet
step nozzles at pre-designed uplift speed and energy.
Uplift speed cm/min 18 11.30 8.2 5.5 The process was repeated for secondary column pre-drilling
Energy MJ/m 50 80 110 165 and jet-grouting. After completion of jet grouting in cut off,
Minutes of 5.56 8.89 12.22 18.33 permeation grouting holes were drilled at 1.2m upstream of
Jetting/ml jet grouting cut off axis. Permeation grouting is a grouting
M3 of grout 1.25 2.00 2.750 4.125 process in which grout is placed under pressure without
jetted/ml appreciable damage to the soil structure or triggering soil
Tons of cement 0.625 1.00 1.375 2.062 displacement. It is carried out using T.A.M. technique. It was
jetted/lm done on the upstream side of the jet grouted cut off. As
Based on this trial, the trial shaft comprising 9 compared to jet grouting, it is a low pressure grouting up to
primarycolumns @ 2.4mc/c and 9 secondary columns in 5Mpa. It was mainly used for window treatment as the
between two primary columns forming an annulus were chance of window formation could happen in such bouldery
constructed on the left bank. Jet grouting was done in all the matrix.
holes with cement bentonite solution of:Cement-500Kg, Abstract of Jet grouting
Bentonite 25Kg, water-825L and having density of grout Sr. Upstream Coffer Downstream
being 1.36Kg/m3. After this permeation grouting was done No Dam Coffer Dam
by making 22holes at 1.2m away from trial shaft. After this 1 Total Length 161.0m 159.47m
two pump wells, one inside the shaft and the other outside the 2 Total Area of 4984.43 Sqm 3734.60 Sqm
shaft was done and then pumping test was done to ascertain Treatment
the permeability of the grouted Cut off which was found to 3 Total Nos. of 184 142
be less than the minimum requirement of 1X10-6m/s. Holes
After the trial following technical parameters were finalized 4 Total cement 117376 Bags 93437 Bags
for jet grouting: consumed
Types of jet grouting– Single row-double fluid technique: 5 Bentonite 293440 Kgs 233592.50 Kgs
Diameter:130cm
6 Sodium 98047Ltrs 98047Ltrs
Maximum cut off depth:40m Silicate
Design Head: 60m

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International Journal For Technological Research In Engineering
Volume 2, Issue 11, July-2015
7 Sodium 84974 Kgs 34974 Kgs
Aluminate
8 Maximum 50.40 M (From 40.50 m 9 From
depth of EL 540m) EL 535.0m)
Drilling
9 Maximum 46.30M ( From 35.20M( From
depth of Bed EL 540m) EL 535m)
rock
IV. COFFER DAM
Upstream and downstream coffer dams 19m and 10m high
and 160m and 60m long have top at EL 555m and 540m
respectively. Rock fill coffer dams were constructed with
central clay core above river bed level and jet grouted cut off
wall below the river bed. The permeability of the clay core of
the coffer dam was restricted to be lower than to 10-5cm/sec
to limit the pumping requirements and ensure the stability of
excavated slopes in the river bed material. Top elevations of
the upstream and downstream coffer dams were fixed to
provide 2.0m free bard above the maximum water levels. The
upstream coffer dam is located 90m upstream of the dam axis
with top width of 6m. The coffer dam was founded on the
river borne material with a 5m deep key trench of 2m width.
The cross section of the coffer dam is shown in fig-3.
UPSTREAM COFFER DAM
The coffer dam was constructed in stages matching with the
construction of jet grouted cut off wall. The upstream face of
coffer dam was provided with mechanically dumped rip rap
comprising 90% of stones weighting more than 35 Kgs.
V. FLASH FLOOD AND DAMAGE TO UPSTREAM
COFFER DAM
The coffer dam was completed by 30th June 2003, Due to
heavy rains in the upper reaches at Teesta River the water
level at Diversion Tunnel inlet started increasing on night of
7th-8th July 2003. At around 10.15AM on 8th July the level
touched EL 554.50m and remained at this level for an hour.
The maximum observed flood corresponding to maximum
water level of EL 554.90 was observed as 3450 Cumecs at
Diversion Tunnel inlet against design diversion flood of 3250
Cumecs corresponding to EL 553.0m. By 1600 Hours the
level was down to EL: 546.0m with level fluctuating by ½ to
1m due to surging water. The river water was seen
straightway hitting the coffer dam and damaging u/s face. It
was continuously raining up to morning hours on 10th July
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ISSN (Online): 2347 - 4718
2003 and water level at Diversion Tunnel inlet remained
fluctuating at EL 547m to EL 548m during 8th-9th July with
wave up to 1m high. The upstream face of coffer dam was
extensively damaged and even the clay core in the middle
40m was washed away in the high current. Maximum
erosion was observed at about 45m from the right side for a
stretch of 20m and top width in this portion reduced to 1.5 up
to 1430 hours on 9th July 2003. As erosion of upstream face
of coffer dam started, big size boulders and stones up to 2to
5 cum were dumped in the upstream area by means of dozer
and excavator and dumpers from top of coffer dam to
safeguard the body of the coffer dam from the fury of high
current flood water. As cutting and erosion of upstream
coffer dam was continuous, it was decided to strengthen the
base of the coffer dam by dumping Rock fill on the
downstream face as well. The dumping was started since
17.00hours on 8th July and continued till 11th July 2003 by
which time a 4m wide bench was developed at EL: 550m EL
545m and EL 540m on the downstream side of coffer dam.
Since erosion of upstream face was continuing with water
level around EL 546m on 9th July 2003 it was decided to
place 2 to 2.5 cum capacity steel cages filled with
stones/boulders on the upstream face by way of mobile
crane to minimize erosion and subsequent damage to coffer
dam. Concrete blocks and boulder filled fish net were also
placed on the upstream face of coffer dam to prevent further
erosion. The rain fall and water levels at coffer dam during
the period between 7th-12th July 2003 have been furnished
as under:-
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Volume 2, Issue 11, July-2015 ISSN (Online): 2347 - 4718

Date Rainfall Maximum Time Maximum wall construction which could have taken longer time.
in mm observed observed Further engaging specialized agency for such specialized job
discharge water which was being done for the first time in Indiawas good
in cumecs level EL reason behind the success of this technology. For large rivers
in m with high discharge the u/s face of the rock fill type coffer
07.07.2003 22 1174.5 0.00 ( 547.30m dam should be concrete faced to counter the erosive action of
midnight) water surges.
08.07.2003 59 3460 1.30 AM 554.50m
09.07.2003 35.2 1690 12.00 549.00m VII. ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Noon The author is very grateful to NHPC, M/S SBF and host of
10.07.2003 30.2 1174 04.00 AM 545.50m NHPC officers for the help in compiling various reports.
11.07.2003 18.5 1231 0.00 545.60m
(Midnight) REFERENCE
11.07.2003 14 1117 04.00 AM 545.50m Detailed Project Reportand technical reports of Teesta
As the water level receded, the rock fill material was placed Stage-V Project.
on the upstream face and bench at EL 550m was developed M/S. SoletancheBachy Report on jet grouting.
from left bank and this bench was further widened so as to
bring the upstream face as far as possible to the earlier Biographical details of the Author:-
section. This flash flood not only eroded the upstream face of
the coffer dam but also the major part of the impervious
central clay core thus necessitating the rebuilding of the
coffer dam. It was not found economical to remove the top
portion of rock fill and filter material and rebuild the clay
core and allied zones. This process was time-consumingand
costly and hence concrete facing of cofferdams was done.
Brajesh Kumar Ojha “FIE”, Project Director (Energy
Infratech Pvt. Limited)
“Presently working in Teesta III HE Project (1200 MW) in
Sikkim”.
Graduated in Civil Engineering from Bhagalpur University
Bihar in 1984 and joined National Hydro Electric Power
Corporation (NHPC) a Govt. of India Enterprise in Feb
1985. The author has worked in NHPC Limited, the largest
Hydropower Utility in India for more than 23 years. During
this period he was involved in Design and Construction of
various Hydropower Projects in India. He worked as Chief
Engineer for the construction of Teesta Stage V (510 MW)
HE Project and also as Project Director in the construction of
Teesta Stage VI (500MW) HE Project being presently
developed by M/S Lanco Infratech Limited.

VI. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

River bed excavation up to 45m depth especially in a place
where almost six months are wet,was challenging as
conventional working could have posed huge dewatering
problem. Jet grouting being implemented for the first time in
India proved its worth and its resultwas better than expected.
The construction of jet grouted cut off wall below each coffer
dam helped in reducing the water flows across the alluvium
to an amount that was manageable by pumping. Rather the
seepage from the upstream and downstream end was almost
negligible and only the seepage water from the right and left
abutment was the main contributing factor and was easily
managed by dewatering pumps. As the jet grouting and
raising of coffer dams was required to be done in six months,
the proposal of going for single row jet grouting proved more
useful than multiple row jet grouting or concrete diaphragm

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