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Hydropower Potential
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The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) undertook reassessment of the hydropower resources of the
country in 1980s. In this survey, theoretical and the economic hydro potential of the rivers was worked out.
The potential was assessed by identifying specific suitable sites and water availability corresponding to a
90% dependable year. CEA had identified 845 economically feasible schemes in various river basin of the
country. The firm energy was converted into hydroelectric potential by applying a suitable system load
factor. On this basis, the total theoretical potential at 60% load factor was assessed as 301,117 MW and
the economic potential at 84,044 MW.

Basin-Wise of Hydroelectric Potential of Indian River System
S.No.

Name of River

Number of
Schemes

Firm
Potential
(MW)

Potential (MW) at 60% LF Needed IC
(MW)

Economic
Potential
Theoretical
Potential
1. Great Indus 190 (including
23 storage)
11,992.8 19,988 50,172 33,832
2. Great
Brahmaputra
226 (including
76 storage)
23,951.9 34,920 146,170 66,065
3. Ganga 142 (including
35 storage)
3,409.0 10,715 20,711
4. West flowing
river of South
India
94 3,689.4 6,149 9,437 9,430
5. East flowing
rivers of South
India
140 5,719.0 9,532 26,972 14,511
6. Central Indian
river system
53 1,664.2 2,740 14,888 4,152
Total 845 50,426.3 84,044 301,117 148,701


Hydropower Projects
A project with capacity of 130 kW installed at Sidrapong (Darjeeling) in the year 1897 was the first
hydropower installation in India. A few old installations, e.g., Shiva Samundram in Mysore (2,000 kW),
Chamba (40 kW) in 1902, Gagoi in Mussoorie (3,000 kW) in 1907, Jubbal (50 kW) in 1911, Chhaba (1,750
kW) in Shimla in 1913, are the known hydro-power stations that are still working. Energy from these plants
was primarily used for domestic needs in adjacent towns.

The Gagoi Power House that Lt. Col. W.W. Bell had built near Mussoorie was to provide electricity and to
pump water upward to Mussoorie town. It was for the first time that water was pumped to a height of 516 m
(the highest in Asia at that time). The water was pumped from Murray springs below Mussoorie town. In
the early 20
th
century, the princely State of Mysore established a major hydro development the Shiva
Samudaram powerhouse on Cauvery River with initial capacity of 7.92 MW. The capacity of this
powerhouse was increased to 47 MW by 1938. Initially power was supplied to Kolar Gold fields for mining
development and operations and later to Bangalore and Mysore cities too. Mysore's second development
was in 1940, the Shimsapura hydro power station (2 8.6 MW) again on Cauvery River.

In northern India, 4 MW Mohora hydropower station on Jhelum River in the year in 1905 was the first
major hydro development in the then princely state of Jammu and Kashmir. A major contribution to
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hydropower development was made by the Tata industrial group who successfully established three major
hydropower plants in the Western Ghats in Maharashtra: 40 MW Khopoli (58 MW) in 1915, 48 MW
Bhivpuri (412 MW) during 1922-25, and 90 MW Bhira (518 MW) in 1927.

In 1932, two major hydropower projects, namely 48 MW Joginder Nagar station (Himachal Pradesh), and
14 MW Pykara hydro plants were taken up and completed by the then provincial governments of Punjab
and Madras, respectively. Further notable developments in Madras state were Mettur dam hydro station
(40 MW) in 1937 and Papanasam (14 MW initial) in 1944. Travancore-Cochin princely state (now in
Kerala) and United Provinces (now Uttaranchal and Uttar Pradesh) also carried out some significant hydro
developments namely the Pallivassal hydro station (with 15 MW initial capacity), and a series of hydro
stations on Ganga canal, respectively. With the development of high voltage transmission lines in the early
twentieth century, a shift occurred from small hydro plants serving local electricity markets to large plants
feeding into distribution grids.

At the time of independence (1947), the IC of hydropower projects was 508 MW, which was about 37% of
the total IC at that time. But with the taking up of five-year plans, work began on many multi-purpose river
valley projects, the so called temples of modern India. Bhakra dam was the notable showcase for a long
time to come. At the end of 1998, the installed hydropower capacity was about 22,000 MW which was 24.85
% (lowest % so far) of the total IC of 88,543 MW. In the year 1962-63, the hydro: thermal ratio was the
maximum at 50.62 However, over the years, the share of hydropower has continuously come down. It may
be noted that a thermal-hydro mix in the ratio of 60:40 is considered as ideal.

Hydropower Stations in Operation (IC of 50 MW and Above)
Name of Station Name of River State IC
(MW)
Year
Commissioned
Lower Jhelum Jhelum Jammu & Kashmir 105 1978-79
Salal Chenab Jammu & Kashmir 690 1987-95
Uri Jhelum Jammu & Kashmir 480 1996-97
Upper Sindh II Sindh nallah Jammu & Kashmir 105 2000-01
Shanan Uhi Himachal Pradesh 110 1932-82
Bhakra LB Sutlej Himachal Pradesh 540 1960-61
Bhakra RB Sutlej Himachal Pradesh 660 1966-68
Bassi Uhi Himachal Pradesh 60 1970-81
Dehar Beas Himachal Pradesh 990 1977-78
Giri Giri Himachal Pradesh 60 1978
Pong Beas Himachal Pradesh 360 1978-83
Baira Siul Baira/Siul Himachal Pradesh 180 1980-81
Sanjay Bhaba Bhabha Khad Himachal Pradesh 120 1989
Chamera I Ravi Himachal Pradesh 540 1994
Malana Malana Himachal Pradesh 86 2001
Baspa II Baspa Himachal Pradesh 300 2003
Nathpa Jhakri Sutlej Himachal Pradesh 1500 2003-04
Ganguwal & Kotla Sutlej Punjab 155 1955-62
UBDC Ravi Punjab 91 1971-91
Mukerian Beas Punjab 207 1983-89
Anandpur Sahib Sutlej Punjab 134 1985
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Anandpur Sahib Sutlej Punjab 134 1985
Ranjit Sagar Ravi Punjab 600 2000
Rana Pratap Sagar Chambal Rajasthan 172 1958-69
Jawahar Sagar Chambal Rajasthan 99 1972-73
Mahi I Mahi Rajasthan 50 1986
Mahi II Mahi Rajasthan 90 1989
Dhalipur Yamuna Uttaranchal 51 1965-70
Chibro Tons Uttaranchal 240 1975-76
Ramganga Ramganga Uttaranchal 198 1975-77
Chilla Ganga Uttaranchal 144 1980-81
Khodri Tons Uttaranchal 120 1984
Maneri Bhali I Bhagirathi Uttaranchal 90 1984
Tanakpur Sarda Uttaranchal 120 1992
Rihand Rihand Uttar Pradesh 300 1962-66
Obra Rihand Uttar Pradesh 99 1970
Khara Ashan Uttar Pradesh 72 1992
Gandhisagar Chambal Madhya Pradesh 115 1960-66
Bargi Narmada Madhya Pradesh 90 1986-88
Bansagar Tons I Tons Madhya Pradesh 315 1991-92
Bansagar Tons III Sone Madhya Pradesh 60 2001
Hasdeo Bango Hasdeo Chhatisgarh 120 1994-95
Ukai Tapi Gujarat 300 1974-76
Kadana Mahi Gujarat 240 1990-96
Khopoli Ganga Maharashtra 72 2001-03
Bhivpuri Andhra Maharashtra 72 1998-99
Bhira Mula & Neela Maharashtra 150 1927-51
Koyna I & II Koyna Maharashtra 560 1962-67
Koyna III Koyna Maharashtra 320 1975-78
Vaitarna Vaitarna & Aliwandi Maharashtra 60 1976
Pench Pench Maharashtra 160 1986
Tillari Tillari Maharashtra 60 1987
Bhira Tail race Bhira & Kundlika Maharashtra 80 1987-88
Bhira PS Mula & Nila Maharashtra 150 1997
Koyna IV Koyna Maharashtra 1000 1999-2000
Upper Sileru Sileru Andhra Pradesh 240 1967-95
Lower Sileru Sileru Andhra Pradesh 460 1976-78
Nagarjunsagar Krishna Andhra Pradesh 815 1978-85
Srisailam Krishna Andhra Pradesh 770 1982-87
Nagarjunsagar RC Krishna Andhra Pradesh 91 1983-90
Nagarjunsagar CH Krishna Andhra Pradesh 61 1992
Srisailam LB Krishna Andhra Pradesh 900 2001-03
Mahatma Gandhi (Jog
Falls)
Sharavathy Karnataka 120 1947-52
Sharavathy Sharavathy Karnataka 891 1964-77
Sharavathy TR Sharavathy Karnataka 240 2001-02
Linganamakki Sharavathy Karnataka 55 1979-80
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Linganamakki Sharavathy Karnataka 55 1979-80
Kalinadi Kalinadi Karnataka 810 1979-84
Supa Kalinadi Karnataka 100 1985
Varahi Varahi Karnataka 230 1989-90
Kadra Kalinadi Karnataka 150 1997-99
Kodasalli Kalinadi Karnataka 120 1998-99
Pykara Singara Pykara & Mukuthy Tamil Nadu 70 1932-54
Periyar Periyar Tamil Nadu 140 1958-65
Kundah I Avalanche & Emerald Tamil Nadu 60 1960-64
Kundah II Kundah Tamil Nadu 175 1960-64
Kundah III Pegumbahallah &
Nirallapallam
Tamil Nadu 180 1965-78
Kundah IV Bhavani Tamil Nadu 100 1966-78
Mettur Tunnel Cauvery Tamil Nadu 200 1965-66
Aliyar Aliyar Tamil Nadu 60 1970
Kodayar I Kodayar Tamil Nadu 60 1970
Sholayar I Sholayar Tamil Nadu 70 1971
Kadamparai Kadamparai Tamil Nadu 400 1987-88
Lower Mettur I/ II/ III/ IV Cauvery Tamil Nadu 120 1988-89
Sholayar Sholayar Kerala 54 1966-68
Sabarigiri Pamba & Kakki Kerala 300 1966-67
Kuttiyadi Kuttiyadi Kerala 75 1972
Idukki Periyar & Killivally Kerala 780 1976-86
Idamalayar Idamalayar Kerala 75 1987
Lower Periyar Periyar Kerala 180 1997
Kakkad Moozhiyar Veluthode Kerala 50 1999
Panchet Hill Damodar Bihar 80 1959-91
Subarnarekha I & II Subarnarekha Jharkhand 130 1977-80
Machkund Machkund Orissa 120 1955-59
Hirakud PH I Mahanadi Orissa 236 1956-90
Hirakud II Mahanadi Orissa 72 1962-64
Balimela Sileru Orissa 360 1973-77
Rengali Brahmni Orissa 250 1985-92
Upper Kolab Kolab Orissa 320 1988-93
Upper Indravati Indravati Orissa 600 1998-2000
Maithon Barakar West Bengal 60 1957-58
Rammam II Rammam West Bengal 51 1995-96
Teesta canal I/II/III Mahananda West Bengal 67 1997-99
Rangit III Greater Rangit Sikkim 60 2000
Khandong Kopili Sikkim 50 1984
Kopili Umrong nallah Assam 200 1998-97
Umiam III Umiam Meghalaya 60 1979
Umiam IV Umtru Meghalaya 60 1992
Ranganadi Ranganadi Arunachal Pradesh 405 2002
Doyang Doyang Nagaland 75 2000-01
Loktak Loktak Manipur 105 1983
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Loktak Loktak Manipur 105 1983
Pykara Ult. Moyar Tamil Nadu 150 2003-04
Chamera II Ravi Himachal Pradesh 300 2004-05
Tehri I Bhagirathi Uttaranchal 1000 2005-06
Dhauliganga Dhauliganga Uttaranchal 280 2005-06
Almati Krishna Karnataka 290 2004-06
Bhavani Barrage I/ II/ III Bhavani/Cauveri Tamil Nadu 90 2004-05

Hydropower Stations Under Construction (IC range 50 MW and Above)
Name of Station Name of River State IC (MW) Commissioning
Target
Dulhasti Chenab Jammu & Kashmir 390 2006-07
Sewa II Sewa Ravi Jammu & Kashmir 120 2006-07
Baglihar Chenab Jammu & Kashmir 450 2006-07
Sawalkot Chenab Jammu & Kashmir 600 NA
Larji Beas Himachal Pradesh 126 2006-07
Dhamai Sunda Pabar Himachal Pradesh 70 2006-07
Rampur Sutlej Himachal Pradesh 400 2006-07
Keshang I Sutlej Himachal Pradesh 66 2006-07
Koldam Sutlej Himachal Pradesh 800 2008-09
Parbati II Parbati/Beas Himachal Pradesh 800 2009-10
Uhi III Uhi/Beas Himachal Pradesh 100 NA
Allian Duhangan NA Himachal Pradesh 192 2008-09
Shapurkandi I/II/III Punjab 168 2006-07
Tehri II (PS) Bhagirathi Uttaranchal 1000 2006-07
Koteshwar Bhagirathi Uttaranchal 400 2005-06
Maneri Bhali II Bhagirathi Uttaranchal 304 2005-06
Lakhvar Vyasi I/II Yamuna Uttaranchal 420 2007-12
Vishnu Prayag Alaknanda Uttaranchal 400 2006-07
Srinagar Alaknanda Uttaranchal 330 2007-08
Indira Sagar Narmada Madhya Pradesh 1000 2014
Omkareshwar Narmada Madhya Pradesh 520 2006-07
Maheshwar Narmada Madhya Pradesh 400 2012
Sardar Sarovar Narmada Madhya Pradesh 1200 2006-07
Sardar Sarovar Canal Head Narmada Madhya Pradesh 250 2003-07
Ghatgar (PS) Pravara Maharashtra 250 2004-07
Priyadarshini Jurala Krishna Andhra Pradesh 235 2006-08
Kutiadi Augm Kutiadi Kerala 100 2006-07
Balimela Sileru Balimela Orissa 210 2005-08
Purulia PS Kishtobazar
nallah
West Bengal 900 2006-07
Teesta L Dam III Teesta West Bengal 132 2006-07
Teesta L Dam IV Teesta West Bengal 168 2006-07
Teesta V Teesta Sikkim 510 2006-07
Karbi Langpi Borpani Assam 100 2006-07
Myntdu Myntdu Meghalaya 84 2006-07
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Myntdu Myntdu Meghalaya 84 2006-07
Loktak d/s Loktak Manipur 90 2008-09
Tuirial Tuirial Mizoram 60 2006-07
Bairabi Dhaleshwari Mizoram 80 2006-07