Project Location and Accessibility

Suchhu small hydropower project is a pure run-off the river scheme planned across Suchhu which is a tributary of Amochhu. The project is located in Sangbaykha Gewog in Haa Dzongkhag with its intake located about 1 km walk from Shaba village and powerhouse located below Tsanglingna at about 1 km upstream of Suchhu and Sheychhu confluence. Suchhu joins Sheychhu at elevation of 897masl and the combined river joins Amochhu at an elevation of about 835 masl. The catchment area at the intake is 90 sq.km which is a complete rainfed catchment.

The intake is located at an elevation of 1230 masl and powerhouse is located at an elevation of 940 masl. The project is currently accessible via Shaba and Tshanglingna farm road, about 79km away from Haa town. The intake and powerhouse take-off point are about 12km and 16km away from the Sangbaykha Dungkhag. Sangbaykha Dungkhag is accessible via road from India border towns through Phuentsholing-Haa and Phuentsholing-Samtse highway for the transportation of equipment, construction materials, etc. 

Field Investigations

Topography survey and mapping was carried out at 1:5000 scale at 5 m contour interval for the whole project area and along the main project components topography survey was carried out at a higher resolution of 1:1000 scale at 1 m contour interval. Geological mapping and geophysics surveys were carried out for ascertaining the geological conditions of the project area. Several stages of field visits were carried out to assess the topographical, geological and environmental & social impact assessment of the project layout.

Project Layout & Features

The project layout has been proposed on the left bank of Suchhu. It envisages a design discharge of 7.43 cumecs, net head of 273 m and corresponding installed capacity of 18 MW. A trench weir is envisaged and the water conductor system entails 1,004 m of underground pipe, 3,560 m of surface pipe, 150 m of inclined surge tube and 475 m of surface penstock pipe. A surface powerhouse is proposed to accommodate E&M equipment.

With an installed capacity of 18 MW, it is expected to generate 76.57 GWh of energy annually which will provide stable back-up power supply system to facilitate self-contained supply flexibility for Haa Dzongkhag and also to create economic activities at grass-roots level and help generate employment and engagement of the people.