List of Hydroelectric Power Plants in India

Hydroelectric Power Plants in India

There are 197 Hydroelectric Power plants in India. It is estimated that India has a hydroelectric potential of approximately 148,700MW, out of which it has developed 42,783 MW of capacity, and a total of 13,616MW is under construction. India is the third largest consumer and producer of energy in the world. It generates energy from coal, water, wind, and solar energy.

Hydroelectric Power Plants in India Notes

India’s largest hydroelectric power plant is the Koyna Hydroelectric Project, located near Patan in the Satara district of Maharashtra. It has a capacity of 1,960MW. The Koyna Project has four dams. Among these dams, the largest dam is constructed across the Koyna River.

Classification of Hydropower Plants in India

In Asia, India is the third largest electric power-producing country through Hydro-projects. Hydropower Plants in India can be classified based on the size of the power potential.

• Large Hydropower Plants: Ministry of Power- India became the world’s fifth-largest country for potential hydropower capacity in 2019. India’s estimated hydroelectric power potential is 1,45,320 MW, most of which the large hydropower plants contribute. More than 100 large hydropower plants in India contribute above 25 MW. However, most of these large hydropower projects have languished in India because of environmental litigations, financial stress, contractual conflicts, local disturbances, and unwilling purchases.
• Small Hydropower Plants: MNRE (Ministry of New and Renewable Energy): Hydropower with a potential capacity of less than 25 MW are considered small hydropower plants. Many small hydropower plants in India are constructed in various hilly areas of the country. The Small hydropower projects are further divided into three types- Small hydro (2MW to 25 MW), Mini (101 kW to 2MW), and Micro (up to 100 kW).

List of Hydro Power Plants in India

There are 197 Hydro Electric Power Plants in India. The state-wise list of Hydro Power Plants in India and the rivers they are constructed in are shown in the table provided below:

Hydro Electric Power Plant in India	River	States
Dulhasti	Chenab	Jammu and Kashmir
Pong	Beas	Himachal Pradesh
Chamera-II	Ravi	Himachal Pradesh
Chamera-I	Ravi	Himachal Pradesh
Pandoh Dam	Beas	Himachal Pradesh
Nathpa Jhakri Hydro Electric Power Plant	Satluj	Himachal Pradesh
Baspa-II Hydro Electric Power plant	Baspa	Himachal Pradesh
Tehri Hydro Electric Power plant	Bhagirathi	Uttarakhand
Teesta Hydro Electric Power plant	Teesta	Sikkim
Rangit Hydroelectric Power plant	Rangit	Sikkim
Hirakud Hydro Electric Power plant	Mahanadi	Odisha
Balimela Hydro Electric Power plant	Sileru	Odisha
Loktak Hydro Electric Power plant	Leimatak	Manipur
Koyna Hydroelectric Power plant	Koyna	Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh
Rihand Hydroelectric Power plant	Rihand	Madhya Pradesh
Indira Sagar Hydro Electric Power plant	Narmada	Madhya Pradesh
Bansagar Hydroelectric Power plant	Sone	Kerala
Idukki Hydro Electric Power plant	Periyar	Karnataka
Shivanasamudra Hydroelectric Power plant	Kaveri	Karnataka
Sharavathi Hydroelectric Power plant	Sharavathi	Karnataka
Kalinadi Hydro Electric Power plant	Kalinadi	Jharkhand
Subarnarekha Hydroelectric Power plant	Subarnarekha	Jammu and Kashmir
Uri Hydro Electric Power plant	Jhelum	Jammu and Kashmir
Salal Hydro Electric Power plant	Chenab	Himachal Pradesh
Nathpa Jhakri Hydroelectric Power plant	Beas	Himachal Pradesh
Dehar Hydroelectric Power plant	Sutlej	Himachal Pradesh
Bhakra Nangal Hydroelectric Power plant	Baira	Himachal Pradesh
Baira-Siul Hydroelectric Power plant	Narmada	Gujarat
Machkund Hydro Electric Power plant	Machkund	Andhra Pradesh, Orissa
Srisailam Hydro Electric Power plant	Krishna	Andhra Pradesh
Nagarjunasagar Hydro Electric Power plant	Krishna	Andhra Pradesh

First Hydroelectric Power Plant in India

The first hydropower plant in India is Sidrapong hydroelectric power station, located 12 kilometers from Darjeeling town at the foothills of the Arya Tea Estate. The Sidrapong hydroelectric power station, or Sidrapong hydel power station, was commissioned on 10 November 1897. The initial capacity of the power station was 2×65 kW. However, in 1916, this capacity was increased to a total capacity of 1000 kW.

In 1931, the old machinery of the project was replaced for more-efficient triple-phase transmission. In 1978, the operation was taken over by WBSEB, i.e., West Bengal State Electricity Board. After two years, the power station was tremendously affected by the landslide, but it was revived in 1997. The First Hydro Power Plant in India has now got the status of Cultural Heritage by the central government.

Largest Hydroelectric Power Plant in India

The biggest Hydro Power Plant in India is the Koyna Hydroelectric project, situated in the Satara district of Maharashtra. The State Electricity Board is responsible for running the project. The Konya Hydroelectric project is a complex of four dams, including one of the largest dams on the Koyna River, i.e., the Koyna Dam, situated near the Koynanagar village. The total capacity of India’s largest hydroelectric power plant is 1960 MW.

The project has four stages, and each stage has one underground powerhouse built deep inside the Western Ghats. The Western Ghats have very high mountain ranges that result in enormous hydraulic heads. This is one important difference between western and eastern ghats. Stage I of the project was commissioned in May 1962, while the last one was commissioned in 1981.

Facts About Hydroelectric Power Plants in India

Let us see a few important facts about Hydroelectric power plants in India that are important for the UPSC conducted exam. Candidates can expect MCQ-based questions from this topic in the coming session of the exam:

• First hydroelectric power station: Sidrapong hydroelectric power station
• Highest hydroelectric power project in the country: Tehri Hydro Electric Power Plant
• Nathpa Jhakri Hydroelectric Power Plant: Srisailam Hydro Power Plant
• Biggest underground hydroelectric power project: Nathpa Jhakri Hydroelectric Power Plant
• Largest completed hydroelectric power plant in India: Koyna Hydroelectric Project.
• World’s second-largest concrete dam: Sardar Sarovar Dam

Hydroelectric Power Plants in India UPSC

Hydroelectric Power Plants in India are an essential topic for the General Studies Paper I of the UPSC Prelims and Mains exam. Aspirants can download the following notes to excel in their UPSC exam preparation:

Hydroelectric Power Plants in India MCQs

Question: Which of the following is not a Hydroelectric Power Plant in India? –

1. Nagarjunasagar Hydro Electric Power Plant,
2. Matanogawa Pumped Storage Plant,
3. Subarnarekha Hydroelectric Power Plant,
4. Loktak Hydro Electric Power Plant

Answer: 2) Matanogawa Pumped Storage Plant

Question: Which of the following is India’s First Hydro Power Plant? –

1. Rihand Hydroelectric Power Plant,
2. Chamera III Hydroelectric Plant,
3. Baspa-II Hydro Electric Power Plant,
4. Shivanasamudra Hydroelectric Power Plant

Answer: 4) Shivanasamudra Hydroelectric Power Plant

UPSC Notes
Important Articles of Indian Constitution	Types of Forest in India
FEMA Act	Cabinet Ministers of India
Rivers of India	Viceroy of India
High Courts in India	Writs
Features of Indian Constitution	Ramsar Sites in India