Northwest Himalaya Research Articles

The Fate of Pyroxenes in Mafic Xenoliths from the Kinnaur Kailash Granite, Sutlej Valley, NW Himalaya: Effect of Retrograde Hydration and Insights on the Rare Occurrence of High-Grade Metamorphic Rocks in the Himalayan Orogen

Abstract Pseudosection modelling of post-peak mineral assemblages in metamorphosed mafic xenoliths from the Kinnaur Kailash Granite, Northwest Himalaya, has provided new insights into pre-Himalayan metamorphism and constrained the P–T conditions of hydration. P–T and P–MH2O pseudosections constructed in the NCFMASH system show that retrograde hydration occurred during destabilisation of orthopyroxene and clinopyroxene in mafic granulites after decompression to 0.3 GPa pressure, and as a result, water-containing phases such as cummingtonite and hornblende formed. Results from two of the studied xenoliths indicate that the secondary mineral assemblage is controlled not only by P and T, but also by the amount of water available for hydration. In contrast, another example indicates the development of cummingtonite from hornblende via dehydration reaction after decompression to conditions appropriate for cummingtonite stability. The study shows that the Higher Himalayan Crystalline Sequence (HHCS), from which the xenoliths have been derived, must have been subjected to pre-Himalayan high-grade metamorphism, although it is not evident because of pervasive overprinting by Himalayan metamorphism. The present-day metamorphic pattern of the HHCS is expectedly the result of both pre-Himalayan and Himalayan metamorphism, and careful petrological investigation is required to distinguish their signatures so that a better understanding of the tectonothermal evolution of the Himalayas can come into picture. Isotopic dating of the xenoliths is required to establish the timings of the pre-Himalayan metamorphism and decompression.

The Frontier Complex: Geopolitics and the Making of the India-China Border, 1846–1962 by Kyle J. Gardner

Reviewed by: The Frontier Complex: Geopolitics and the Making of the India-China Border, 1846–1962 by Kyle J. Gardner Benjamin Holt The Frontier Complex: Geopolitics and the Making of the India-China Border, 1846–1962. By Kyle J. Gardner. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2021. xxi + 280 pp. ISBN 978-1-108-84059-0. $99.00 (hardcover). A central aim of Kyle Gardner's The Frontier Complex is to demonstrate how colonial border-making shaped ideas about territory that created legacies still felt in contemporary Asia (p. xvi). Supplementary ambitions are to bring Ladakh into greater focus within histories of South Asia (p. 20) and amalgamate top-down narratives of border-making with ground-level experiences. The book delivers on these aims. To do so, Gardner traces the history of the frontier to reveal how colonial concerns with geography and security created the foundation for the postcolonial borderland. Thus, the book rejects the stasis of borders in favor of an in-depth temporal analysis of developments in the northwest Himalaya, with primary focus on Ladakh. A core argument made by Gardner is that the creation of a borderland is not merely a routine exercise in map-making. Rather, the process is critical for understanding ways that "geography, politics, and power" are understood (p. 2). When this historical process is recognized, notable insights follow. For instance, Gardner is particularly keen to stress the ramifications of the "new, geopolitical way of seeing space" that dominated British thinking from the late nineteenth century (p. 184). The focus on security was propelled by colonial anxieties and this—alongside the inability to properly demarcate a clear boundary—produced lasting effects. This conundrum proved to be a key factor behind the Sino-Indian war of 1962, the temporal endpoint of the book. [End Page 532] The notion of the "frontier complex"—that is the various practices used by colonial officials, from surveys and mapping, to construction, information, and regulation (p. 21)—provides the framework for analysis. The first chapter covers the diverse ways the region was "seen" before the British arrival, suggesting that "Ladakh" was—in a sense—a colonial construct. The second then suggests the colonial state developed both natural and political understandings of the region but failed to construct a "scientific frontier" regardless.1 This desire to politicize geography is a continuing theme in chapters three and four as roadbuilding and colonial texts take centre stage. The former was a conduit of imperial security; the latter reflected the colonial vision of territory. Chapters five and six then delve into the rise of geopolitical thought from the 1880s, as colonial anxieties clashed with previous ideas about exploration and commercialization. The final chapter then confronts the postcolonial legacies of the frontier complex. A key strength of The Frontier Complex is its advancement beyond top-down narratives of border-making to continually examine groundlevel interactions with colonial visions of space. For instance, chapter four provides a compelling overview about how lopchak and chaba—essentially tributes paid between Ladakh and Lhasa—proved problematic for colonial governance and prestige (pp. 158–165). This approach is made possible by a rich and diverse source base. The only issue this reviewer would highlight relates to the 1962 war. Considering how heavily it weighs upon the book, the immediate prelude to war is mostly overlooked (pp. 248–250). A more concerted explanation for the midand short- term dynamics could be provided, narrated alongside the longer-term structural factors that Gardner's book reveals. This would help to recalibrate traditional narratives of the conflict, providing more convincing context for the diplomatic failures leading to 1962, of which Gardner is critical (p. 61). Despite this relatively minor area of contention, The Frontier Complex is a richly researched work that provides significant insight for several fields. This is clearest for borderlands studies and adds to a growing repertoire of historically focused analyses in recent years.2 [End Page 533] Viewing borders as something more than "hard territorial lines" is a clear point of departure for the subfield, but Gardner's book reinforces the benefits of understanding the temporal development of the borderland to reveal how spaces are conditioned by the changing interests of associated polities...

Earthworm diversity and distribution in district Mandi, Himachal Pradesh of Northwest Himalaya, India

The present survey of diversity and distribution of earthworms in District Mandi of Northwest Himalayan region conducted in two year from May 2013 to April 2015. Based on study reported 17 species belonging to 4 families. Information on earthworms scientific name, family, number, locality and general habitat are given for each species discussed in the text. Out of these 17 species, 6 native and 11 exotic species are recorded. There are 3 species which are firstly recorded in the study area these includes Eisenia fetida, Argilophilus sp. and Amynthas morrisi. The study provided extended information on earthworms’ diversity in the study area with special reference to change in species along with change in vegetation and altitude.

Multi-site hydrometeorological simulation of streamflow for upper Jhelum basin in northwest Himalayas using HEC–HMS soil moisture accounting algorithm

Multi-site hydrometeorological simulation of streamflow for upper Jhelum basin in northwest Himalayas using HEC–HMS soil moisture accounting algorithm

The geometry of active shortening in the northwest Himalayas and the implications for seismic hazard

SUMMARYLarge thrust faults accommodate the convergence between India and Tibet along the southern margin of the Himalaya and have a history of producing great earthquakes that cause widespread damage. Along most parts of the Himalaya, there is geomorphological evidence that these thrusts can rupture to the surface in Mw >8 earthquakes. However, in the Himalayan state of Jammu & Kashmir (NW India), the thrust faults are blind and large-scale folding is the only expression of active deformation at the surface, making it difficult to assess the seismic hazard in this region. In this paper, we use field, satellite, and seismological observations to determine the fault geometry in Jammu & Kashmir. We then estimate the ground motions from potential earthquakes in the region using models of the seismic wavefield that would be generated if the thrust fault beneath Jammu & Kashmir were to rupture. We find that earthquakes that rupture the buried, shallow part of the locked Main Himalayan Thrust could generate peak ground velocities that are >3 times larger than earthquakes of the same magnitude on its deeper portions. We also model the ground motions that would result from the thrust fault geometries representative of different parts of the Himalayan arc. These simulations show that even seemingly minor variations in the shallow fault geometry can lead to large differences in the expected ground motions, highlighting the importance of accurately determining the shallow geometry of thrust faults along the margins of mountain ranges for estimating seismic hazard.

Relict proglacial lake of Spituk (Leh), northwest (NW) Himalaya: A repository of hydrological changes during Marine Isotopic Stage (MIS)-2

In the northwestern Himalaya (Ladakh and Karakoram), the spatial and temporal changes in the late Quaternary glaciation were modulated by a combination of two contrasting moisture sources (viz., the Indian Summer Monsoon and the mid-latitude westerlies). The inferences about their relative contribution to glacier expansion are based on the ages obtained on moraines. Since the moraines suffer from poor preservation and chronological uncertainty, the present study, therefore, resorted to a near-continuous relict proglacial lake succession in order to reconstruct the continuous pattern of glacier fluctuations during Marine Isotopic Stage-2 (MIS-2). Since the AMS radiocarbon ages (both organic and inorganic matter) suffered from various complexities such as dead carbon contribution and hard water effect, the paleohydrological inferences in this study were drawn primarily based on optical ages (along with sedimentological and geochemical analysis).The proglacial lake sedimentation was modulated by the temporal changes in meltwater discharge. This is attributed to the waning and waxing of proximal valley glaciers. Evidence accrued from the lake sediment supported by the published moraine chronology suggests that valley glaciers expanded during the onset of MIS-2 and persisted until around the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). The beginning of MIS-2 is marked by the onset of cooling (~ 30 ka), which led to a marginal advance in the glaciers. Additionally, early MIS-2 was characterised by millennial-scale climatic fluctuations. For example, a short-lived increase in humidity was observed between 30.2 ka and 29.3 ka, followed by a reversal towards a drier climate between 29.3 ka and 28.1 ka. During the early part of MIS-2, glaciers were driven by the decrease in temperature, whereas the enhanced moisture contribution during mid MIS-2 was responsible for extensive glacier growth. We hypothesise that the enhanced moisture was contributed by the mid-latitude westerlies, with subordinate contribution from the Indian Summer Monsoon (ISM). This we attribute to the southward positioning of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) during MIS-2.

Indian summer monsoon variability during the last 20 kyr: Evidence from peat record from the Baspa Valley, northwest Himalaya, India

Indian summer monsoon variability during the last 20 kyr: Evidence from peat record from the Baspa Valley, northwest Himalaya, India

Palaeoclimatic variability during last eight millennia from a morainal lake in Zanskar, northwest Himalaya, India

Centennial–scale palaeoenvironmental variability has been deduced during past eight millennia using multi–proxy study (textural analysis, environmental magnetic parameters, stable carbon isotopes, palynofacies and elemental concentration), from Khangok–Padam in Zanskar Valley, northwest Himalaya. The multi–proxy record from this morainal lake spanning last ~8200 cal years BP has revealed four hydroclimatic phases. The overall progressively improving hydroclimatic trend is indicated by multi proxy study: sediment size/texture (as a proxy for the energy condition and depositional environment), mineral magnetism (proxy for sediment flux or lithogenic input and lithologic variation), carbon isotope signature (δ13Corg) preserved in organic constituents of sediments (a proxy for palaeovegetation and climate change), elemental geochemistry (proxy for weathering and erosion) and selected samples for palynofacies data (a proxy for changes in biological organic matter). This improving hydroclimatic trend is however punctuated by an abrupt wet spell at ~6200–5200 cal years BP and relatively drier climate during the Little Ice Age between 1400 and 1900 CE. The main driving force implicated for the changes are seen to be the solar output variations. The area lying in a transitional climatic zone of NW Himalaya shows no emphatic record of the events like the 4200 cal. years BP, 2600 cal. years BP and Holocene Climatic Optima. Contrary to the earlier studies in the region (e.g., Tsokar and TsoMorari), our results show an improving hydroclimatic condition in this transition climatic zone between the Indian Summer Monsoon dominated Higher and westerly dominated Trans Himalaya.

A multiparametric approach for rejuvenation of the Gaurikund geothermal spring system in the Northwest Himalayan region

The Gaurikund town falls on the way of the famous trekking route to Kedarnath that faced the wrath of the 2013 flood disaster. This fateful event severed more than 5000 casualties, demolished several infrastructures, and shifted the course of Gaurikund spring from its original position. Nevertheless, the Gaurikund geothermal spring system located in the Himalayan Geothermal Belt of the Garhwal region is preeminent for religious beliefs, balneotherapeutic values and a gateway to delve within the geothermal and hydrological characteristics of the area. In this perspective, restoration of Gaurikund geothermal spring system becomes a necessity. A multiparametric approach comprising geospatial, geology, hydrochemistry and geophysics has been used to study and justify these aspects at Gaurikund. The geological studies infer that the geothermal spring gets recharged by the steep, southerly dipping joints in granite gneiss. Subsequently, the deep percolated water heats up due to the high geothermal gradient and then emerge along the Vaikrita Thrust and its sympathetic minor fault-thrust system by advection. Moreover, four spring outlets are inventoried, with discharge varying from 7.46 to 95.54 L/min. The normal emissivity model uses the pre and post-disaster satellite data and generates maximum kinetic temperature images, showing a positive correlation between land surface temperature and spring discharge. Two-dimensional Electrical Resistivity Tomography (Schlumberger, Wenner and Gradient configurations) survey revealed two low resistivity zones proximal to the geothermal spring on the right bank of the Mandakini river. The engineering interventions carried out by bank protection and construction of small gully plugs in the catchment area is recommended along Gaurikund-Sonprayag section on the right bank of Mandakini river.

Pattern of β-Diversity and Plant Species Richness along Vertical Gradient in Northwest Himalaya, India.

Simple SummaryElevation has a significant impact on the distribution of plant species. However, the structure and distribution patterns of Himalayan vegetation are poorly explored, and research on species composition along an elevation gradient in these mountain ranges is still deficient. Plant species richness is supposed to diminish with altitude, although numerous scientists have found a peak in species richness at mid-elevation, yielding a humped relationship. Many studies along the Himalayan altitudinal gradients have been conducted in order to better understand large-scale biogeographical patterns as well as what drives them, but no clear pattern has emerged. In order to understand how elevation affects plant species, we focused on species diversity, species composition and β-diversity, which allow for the interpreting of different patterns along the elevations. It was found that all these components of diversity vary significantly with the change in altitude.The structure and distribution patterns of Himalayan vegetation are poorly explored, and research on species composition along the elevation gradient in these mountain ranges is still deficient. The current study was undertaken to analyze the variation and pattern of plant species composition along a vertical gradient in northwestern Himalaya, India. A total of 18 sites were selected along an elevation gradient ranging from 2200 to 3900 m asl positioned at an interval of 100 m. The Renyi diversity profile, non-metric multidimensional scaling based on the Bray–Curtis dissimilarity metric and beta diversity components among the elevation belts were calculated. Furthermore, to study the influence of altitude on species richness and diversity, a generalized additive model was created. Two hundred and ten plant species representing 66 families and 147 genera were recorded. The Renyi diversity profiles show that the lower and mid-altitudes had rich species diversity. The results of the non-metric multidimensional scaling analysis show a considerable variation in the total plant species composition among the studied elevation belts. The observed multiple-site Sorensen dissimilarity index across the studied elevation belts was very high. The contribution of species replacement or the turnover component to the observed dissimilarity was much higher than the nestedness component. Furthermore, the herbaceous and tree richness showed a significant decrease with increase in elevation; however, the richness of shrubs showed a bimodal pattern. The present study increases our understanding of the trends and patterns of species richness along the vertical gradient in the Himalayan region.

Zircon geochronology and Hf isotopic study from the Leo Pargil Dome, India: implications for the palaeogeographic reconstruction and tectonic evolution of a Himalayan gneiss dome

AbstractU–Pb geochronology, Hf isotopes and trace-element chemistry of zircon grains from migmatite of the upper Sutlej valley (Leo Pargil), Northwest Himalaya, reveal a protracted geological evolution and constrain anatexis and tectonothermal processes in response to Himalayan orogenesis. U–Pb geochronology and ϵHf record separate clusters of ages on the concordia plots in the migmatite (1050–950 Ma, 850–790 Ma and 650–500 Ma). The 1050–950 Ma zircon population supports a provenance from magmatic units related to the assembly of Rodinia. A minor amount of Palaeoproterozoic grains were likely derived from the Indian craton. The potential source rock of the 930–800 Ma detrital zircons may be granitoid present in Greater Himalayan rocks themselves and the Aravalli Range, which has 870–800 Ma granitic rocks. The arc-type basement within the Himalayan–Tibet orogen recorded (900–600 Ma) igneous activity, which may depict a northeasterly extension of juvenile terranes in the Arabian–Nubian Shield. The granitoid of 800 Ma may be a potential source for 790 Ma detrital zircons owing to scatter in 206/238 dates. The 650–500 Ma zircon population suggests their derivation from the East African Orogen and Ross–Delamerian Orogen of Gondwana. The Cambrian–Ordovician magmatism during the Bhimphedian Orogeny and observed late Neoproterozoic to Ordovician detrital zircons have been derived to some extent from Greater Himalayan magmatic sources. We found no detrital zircon grains that cannot be explained as coming from local sources. One sample yielded a discordia lower intercept age of 15.6 ± 2.2 Ma, the age of melt crystallization.

Projection of annual maximum temperature over Northwest Himalayas using probability distribution models

Projection of annual maximum temperature over Northwest Himalayas using probability distribution models

The distribution and hydrological significance of intact rock glaciers in the north-west Himalaya

ABSTRACT Intact rock glaciers are common periglacial landforms that occur in cold alpine mountains and are often considered indicators of alpine permafrost. They can be both active and inactive, but both have ice in them and can be hydrologically significant. Little is known about the distribution of the rock glaciers in the Himalaya at basin-scale and content of water that can be hydrologically significant during the water-stressed months. We have found 967 intact rock glaciers covering an area of 306 km2 in the river basins of Beas, Chenab, Ravi, Sutlej, and Yamuna. Out of these, around 77% are moraine derived and the rest are talus derived. Most of them occur in the elevation between 4000 and 4500 m having a slope of 10° to 30° with a westerly and south-westerly aspect. They start occurring from 3220 to 6206 m, in places with −10°C to 10°C mean monthly temperature and within 50–100 cm of average monthly precipitation. Their alignment suggests that these rock glaciers occur in the area with low to medium incoming solar radiations. These rock glaciers are generally found where the general rock types are low-grade metamorphic rocks and feldspar-rich intrusive granites occurring beyond the Main Central Thrust in the Higher Himalaya. Finally, we calculated about 8.5 billion m3 volume of water (ice water equivalent) stored in them, considering 60% of the volume of rock glaciers is ice.

Late Pliocene-Early Pleistocene Charophyte Gyrogonites from Mudstone Horizon Underlying Volcanic Ash Beds of Northwest Himalaya: Palaeoecological and Palaeoenvironmental Implications

In this paper, a good number of charophyte specimens and angiospermae seeds have been documented from the mudstone horizon underlying the geochronologically dated volcanic ash beds exposed about 0.375 km northwest of Badakhetar village in Samba district of the Jammu region, northwest Himalaya. By using the morphological characteristics (equatorial axis, distance from apical pore to equatorial axis, isopolarity index, anisopolarity index, width of convolution, angle between convolution and equatorial axis, number of convolutions, vertical and oblique line spiral, size, shape, basal pore and apex morphology) of charophytes, these specimens have been identified and tentatively referred as Chara rantzieni, Charaglobularis globularis, Chara globularis aspera (Characontraria), Hornichara maslovi, Lamprothamnium papulosum, Lychnothamnus breviovatus and Boraginocarpus lakhanpalii (Angiospermae seed). The reported species of charophytes are used here in the present study for Palaeoecological and Palaeoenvironmental studies. Keywords: Charophyte Gyrogonites, Mudstone Horizon, Northwest Himalaya, Palaeoecology, Palaeoenvironment

Geological mapping and neo-tectonics studies of the eocene limestone distributed over Mala Khel Anticline, Trans Indus ranges, North-West Himalayas, Pakistan

Geological mapping and neo-tectonics studies of the eocene limestone distributed over Mala Khel Anticline, Trans Indus ranges, North-West Himalayas, Pakistan

Diversity and bioprospecting potential of PGPR from critically endangered medicinal plant, Trillium govanianum (Wall. ex D. on) in North-West Himalayas

Diversity and bioprospecting potential of PGPR from critically endangered medicinal plant, Trillium govanianum (Wall. ex D. on) in North-West Himalayas

Assessment of Velocity pattern of Lithotectonic Segments of the Kashmir Himalaya: Constraints from GPS measurements

We present the estimated horizontal velocities of different lithotectonic segments of the NW Himalaya using data recorded by the eighteen GPS observatories installed in the Jammu and Kashmir region. The data was acquired from 2016 to 2019 and was processed using high precision GAMIT/GLOBK software. With respect to ITRF08 reference frame, the site motion in the region varies from 35 mm/yr to 45 mm/yr towards north-east. The India fixed site motion was estimated using the Ader's Euler pole of rotation. This yielded site motion varying from 2.4 to 11 mm/yr towards south-west and is consistent with the reported plate motion in the Northwest Himalaya. Further study with additional GPS networks is expected to provide precise estimates of deformation in the locked and creeping zones of the main Himalayan thrust in the Northwest Himalaya.

Medicinal Plant Species: Pistacia integerrima galls – A Comprehensive Review

Karkatasringi, whose botanical name is Pistacia integerrima and belongs to the Anacardiaceae family, is a well-known medicinal plant. This plant is native to India and is distributed along the Northwest Himalayan region at about 500–2500 m above the sea level. Various parts of the plant including roots, bark galls, and leaves contain a number of secondary metabolites. Galls are most commonly used in unconventional medicines. There are various Ayurvedic formulations which include Chyavanaprasha, Shringyadi cuma, and Dasamularista and these formulations are used in the treatment of various diseases including ajeema (indigestion), jwara (fever), and yakrit roga (liver disorders) and also in the treatment of swasa (asthma), yakshma (tuberculosis), and hridyaroga (heart diseases). Furthermore, the galls contain secondary metabolites such as flavonoids, terpenoids, and alkaloids. The bark of this plant contains flavonoids and terpenoids. The roots and leaves contain terpenoids and tannins. The presence of tannins as major constituents is responsible for the astringent action. The plant species P. integerrima which belongs to the family Anacardiaceae is known for its many uses globally and thus represents the whole family for its high therapeutic value. It is used in the treatment of various diseases including some common conditions such as vomiting, fever, asthma, diarrhea, and cough and also used in modern medicine. Commonly known as crab’s claw, P. integerrima is a tree anciently found in Asia and is a botanically important tree. The galls of this plant have been used in treating dysentery, asthma, liver disorders, and cough and also used to cure snakebites. Using the extracts of P. integerrima, various secondary metabolites including sterols, phenolic compounds, and terpenoids have been isolated. In this review, we highlight the description of plant in classical literature of Ayurveda, and also in this review, we try to discuss about the therapeutic properties and chemical constituents of this plant. An attempt is made to assess the therapeutic potential of this plant in both conventional and modern systems of medicine. This review includes the traditional medicinal uses along with the phytochemical and biological evaluation of this plant species. Furthermore, after considering this review, one can build a foundation for further exploration on this topic and utilization of these resources for further research as well.

Gentiana kurro’s physiology and pharmacological properties: Recent update and future perspective

Gentiana kurroo royle is an endangered bitter medicinal plant of the Indian subcontinent. This medicinal plant mainly grows in Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and North-west Himalayas. The medicinal plant's root and rhizome are frequently used by native people for various local remedies. This species has become critically endangered due to its endemic nature and high rate of extraction from its natural environment. In India rhizome and root of this medicinal plant are used as ant periodic, bitter tonics, anti-inflammatory, blood purifier, expectorant, antipsychotic, carminative, and stomachic. Genitiana kurroo can be propagated through micro-filtration of seeds, rhizome cutting, shoot-made segments, and somatic embryogenesis. The roots of Genitiana kurroo are rich in various ingredients such as flavonoids, alkaloids, and terpenoids which are responsible for analgesic, anticancer, and immune-modular effects. Considering these perspectives the present review has intended to provide updated prospects of Gentiana kurroo and provides insights on the nutritional and various pharmacological properties based on updated research literature. This review explores the use of Gentiana kurroo across disciplines for its wide range of prominent-pharmacological properties.

Assessment of Geothermal Renewable Energy with Reference to Tapoban Geothermal Fields, Garhwal Northwest Himalaya, India

Abstract The energy potential of geothermal resources at Tapoban Geothermal Field, situated in the orogenic region of the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand state in the Himalaya, is investigated based on physical parameters, reservoir temperature, borehole depth, and geochemical indicators. It is a prospective field of geothermal water exploitation for both electrical and non-electrical usages. The anomalous geothermal gradient due to the active Main Central Thrust (MCT) zone plays a significant role. To explore the feasibility of exploitation, the surface water temperature and pH from existing geothermal springs is calculated, which ranged from 45°C-93°C and 6.2-7.3, respectively. The study based on dissolved silica geothermometry shows an average reservoir temperature of ~125 ± 2.0°C. The springs emerge from the prominent joint/ weak zone in the country-rock with the discharge of hot waters up to 300 liter minute-1. The total geothermal heat energy of the reservoir is estimated as ~874.35 x 1011 KJ. The energy estimated for the binary power geothermal plant is ~1.02 MWe and 0.71 MWe for 20 years and 30 years, respectively. This energy can be increased manifolds by operating binary cycle power plant technique at multiple sites for an electric generation. The heat capacity from two dominant hot springs from Tapoban geothermal resource was found to be ~0.84 MWt, which can be harnessed by the local people for direct usage. The annual energy use from this reservoir is ~15.89 TJ per year with a capacity factor (CF) of ~ 0.60, indicating that the energy reserve of the Tapoban geothermal field can be used for low to moderate scale energy production to partially meet the energy gap and future requirements.