Mission IPS: HYDRO POWER IN INDIA

Overview

India has one of the world’s largest potentials for hydro electric power. The hydro power potential in India is around 84,000 MW at 60% load factor (installed capacity 148,000 MW). However, less than 20% of this has been harnessed so far
Currently, hydro power contributes about 24% of total installed generation capacity in the country
The oldest hydro electric power plant in Asia is the Sidrapong Hydel Power Station in Darjeeling. Its installed capacity was 130 kW and was commissioned in 1897
The largest hydro electric power project in India is the 2000 MW Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project (Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border). Located across the Subansiri river, the project is currently under construction and is expected to be commissioned in 2012
The Brahmaputra river basin has the largest possible capacity for hydro power in India (66,000 MW)
The advantages of hydro power include
- Non polluting
- Long life of projects
- Low cost of operation and maintenance
- Ability to start and stop quickly to meet load demand
- Much higher efficiency than thermal power

Possible hydro power generation by river basins

River basin	Potential installed capacity (MW)
Indus Basin	33,832
Ganges Basin	20,711
Brahmaputra Basin	66,065
Central Indian River System	4152
Western flowing rivers of peninsular India	9430
Eastern flowing rivers of peninsular India	14,511
Total	148, 701

National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC)

Established 1975, headquarters Faridabad
The NHPC functions under the Ministry of Power
Primary objective of the NHPC is to plan and promote efficient development of hydroelectric power in the country
The NHPC has also diversified into other energy sources such as geothermal, wind, tidal etc
The NHPC has been conferred Mini Ratna Category I status by the Ministry of Public Enterprises
In addition to executing 13 projects in India, the NHPC has also commissioned two projects in Nepal and Bhutan
Currently, 11 hyrdo power projects are under construction in India by the NHPC

Important Hydro Power Projects

S. No.	Project	River	State	Capacity
1	Baira Siul	Baira, Siul, Bhaledh (all tributaries of Ravi)	Himachal Pradesh	180 MW
2	Chamera I	Ravi	Himachal Pradesh	540 MW
3	Chamera II	Ravi	Himachal Pradesh	300 MW
4	Dhauliganga	Dhauliganga (tributary of Sharda)	Uttarakhand	280 MW
5	Dulhasti	Chandra (tributary of Chenab)	Jammu and Kashmir	390 MW
6	Indira Sagar	Narmada	Madhya Pradesh	1000 MW
7	Loktak	Loktak lake	Manipur	90 MW
8	Omkareshwar	Narmada	Madhya Pradesh	520 MW
9	Rangit	Rangit	Sikkim	60 MW
10	Salal	Chenab	Jammu and Kashmir	690 MW
11	Tanakpur	Sharda	Uttarakhand	120 MW
12	Teesta V	Teesta	Sikkim	510 MW
13	Uri I	Jhelum	Jammu and Kashmir	480 MW
14	Baglihar	Chenab	Jammu and Kashmir (Doda dist.)	450 MW
15	Nathpa Jhakri	Sutlej	Himachal Pradesh	1530 MW

Hydro Power Projects under construction

S. No.	Project	River	State	Capacity	Expected Commissioning
1	Chamera III	Ravi	Himachal Pradesh	230 MW	2010
2	Chutuk	Suru	Jammu and Kashmir (Kargil dist.)	44 MW	2011
3	Kishanganga	Kishanganga (tributary of Jhelum)	Jammu and Kashmir (Baramullah dist.)	330 MW	2016
4	Nimmo Bazgo	Indus	Jammu and Kashmir (Leh dist.)	45 MW	2010
5	Parbati II	Parbati	Himachal Pradesh	800 MW	2013
6	Parbati III	Parbati	Himachal Pradesh	520 MW	2010
7	Sewa II	Sewa (tributary of Ravi)	Jammu and Kashmir (Kathua dist.)	120 MW	2009
8	Subansiri (Lower)	Subansiri	Arunchal Pradesh	2000 MW	2012
9	Teesta III	Teesta	West Bengal (Darjeeling dist.)	132 MW	2011
10	Teesta IV	Teesta	West Bengal (Darjeeling dist.)	160 MW	2011
11	Uri II	Jhelum	Jammu and Kashmir (Baramullah dist.)	240 MW	2011

Policy on Hydro Power Development

Source: NHPC

Mission IPS