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.

The largest hydroelectric power plant in India, Koyna Hydroelectric Project, is

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. India is the third largest consumer
and producer of energy in the world. It generates energy from coal, water,
wind, and solar energy.

According to recent data, out of 375.32GW of installed power capacity,

45.8GW belongs to hydroelectric power in India. However, in February 2021,
due to Uttarakhand Floods, NTPC Ltd 520 MW Tapovan Vishnugad
hydropower project site was damaged, resulting in a change in stats.

First Hydroelectric Power Plant in India

The first hydroelectric power plant in India, named Sidrapong hydroelectric
power station, is located 12 kilometres 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.
List of Hydroelectric Power Plants in India
The state-wise list of Hydro Power Plants in India is as under-

Hydro Electric Power Plant in India River Hydro Projects in India - 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
Largest Hydroelectric Power Plant in India
The biggest Hydro Power Plant in India is the Konya Hydroelectric project,
situated in the Satara district of Maharastra. Maharastra 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 Konya Dam, situated near the Koyananagar village. The total
capacity of the largest hydroelectric power plant in India is 1960 MW.

The project has four stages, and each stage has one undergrown powerhouse
built deep inside the Western Ghats. The Western Ghats have very high
mountain ranges that result in enormous hydraulic head. Stage I of the project
was commissioned in May 1962, while the last one was commissioned in
1981.

Important Facts About Hydroelectric Power Plants in

India
The important facts about Hydroelectric power plants in India are as follows-

• 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 in India- Nathpa
Jhakri Hydroelectric Power Plant.
• Largest completed hydroelectric power plant in India- Koyna
Hydroelectric Project.
• World's second-largest concrete dam- Sardar Sarovar Dam.

Classification of Hydropower Plant in India

Based on the size, the Hydropower Plants in India are classified into these
two categories-

• 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 is contributed by the large hydropower plants. There are more
 than 100 large hydropower plants in India that 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)- The hydropwers that have a potential capacity less than 25
MW are considered as the small hydropower plants. There are a large
number of small hydropower plants in India 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).