Lok Sabha Question No. 1666 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-11
Subject: Hydropower Potential in NE Region
Ministry: POWER
Asked by: Sisir Kumar Adhikari

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF POWER

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1666 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.02.2021

## HYDROPOWER POTENTIAL IN NE REGION

1666.  SHRI SISIR KUMAR ADHIKARI:

Will the Minister of POWER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the North East region of the country has a potential of 60 thousand megawatt of hydro electric power production and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether 2.4% of the generation target has been achieved so far and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the action plan of the Government to achieve full potentiality thereof; and
- (d) the status and new proposal of hydro and other power projects for North East region?

## A N S W E R

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR POWER, NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY AND THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR SKILL DEVELOPMENT & ENTREPRENEURSHIP

( SHRI  R.K. SINGH)

(a) & (b) : Yes, Sir. The  assessed  Hydro-electric  power  potential  from  major/medium schemes (i.e. schemes having capacity above 25 MW) in North-Eastern region including Sikkim is  62604  MW.      No  generation  target  in  terms  of  Installed  Capacity  has  been  fixed  by  the Government of India, however, as on date 6.46% (4046 MW) of the existing potential in North East Region including Sikkim, has been harnessed. The State-wise details of potential and its status of development in North-Eastern region including Sikkim is enclosed at Annexure-I.

- (c) : Government have taken several policy initiatives in the past to give a boost the hydropower  development  in  the  country  viz.,  National  Electricity  Policy  2005,  Hydro  Power Policy  2008,  Tariff  Policy  2016,  National  Rehabilitation  &  Resettlement  Policy  (2007)  and Rehabilitation  and  Resettlement  Act  2013.  Further,  Government  of  India  in  March,  2019  has approved  the  following  measures  for  promoting  hydropower  in  the  country  and  improving viability of the sector:
- i. Declaring  Large  Hydro  Power  (LHPs)  (>  25  MW  projects)  as  Renewable  Energy source.
- ii. Hydro Purchase Obligation (HPO) as a separate entity within Non-Solar Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO).

…….2.

- iii. Tariff  rationalization  measures  for  bringing  down  hydro  power  tariff  in  the  initial years.
- iv. Budgetary Support for Flood Moderation/Storage Hydro Electric Projects (HEPs).
- v. Budgetary Support towards Cost of Enabling Infrastructure, i.e. roads/bridges.
- a) Rs. 1.5 crore per MW for projects upto 200 MW.
- b) Rs. 1.0 crore per MW for projects above 200 MW.

These  measures  would  be  particularly  beneficial  for  development  of  hydro projects in North Eastern Region which are located in remote and far-flung areas and require development of extensive associated infrastructure such as roads, bridges etc. for transportation  of  heavy,  large  sized  equipment  &  machinery  to  the  project  site.  The  HPO trajectory, in this regard, has already been notified by the Government on 29.01.2021.

## (d) :    Hydro Power Projects:-

At  present,  8  nos.  of  Hydro  Electric  Projects  (HEPs)  (above  25  MW)  totaling  to 3733 MW are under construction in the North Eastern Region (including Sikkim).  Out of these 8 nos. of HEPs, in 4 nos. of projects totaling 3196 MW works are ongoing and in 4 nos. of HEPs totaling  537  MW  the  works  are  held  up  due  to  various  reasons.    The  status  of  the aforementioned 8 projects is at Annexure-II.

## Thermal Power Projects:-

The  status  of  ongoing/proposed  Thermal  Power  Projects  in  the  North  Eastern States is as per Annexure-III.

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ANNEXURE-I ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) & (b) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  1666 TO BE ANSWERED IN THE LOK SABHA ON 11.02.2021

## ***************

| STATUS OF HYDRO ELECTRIC POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT ( In terms of Installed capacity - Above 25 MW)                                                                                                                                                                                                          | STATUS OF HYDRO ELECTRIC POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT ( In terms of Installed capacity - Above 25 MW)                                                                                                                                                                                                          | STATUS OF HYDRO ELECTRIC POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT ( In terms of Installed capacity - Above 25 MW)                                                                                                                                                                                                          | STATUS OF HYDRO ELECTRIC POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT ( In terms of Installed capacity - Above 25 MW)                                                                                                                                                                                                          | STATUS OF HYDRO ELECTRIC POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT ( In terms of Installed capacity - Above 25 MW)                                                                                                                                                                                                          | STATUS OF HYDRO ELECTRIC POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT ( In terms of Installed capacity - Above 25 MW)                                                                                                                                                                                                          | STATUS OF HYDRO ELECTRIC POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT ( In terms of Installed capacity - Above 25 MW)                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Region/ State                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           | Identified Capacity as per reassessment study                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           | Identified Capacity as per reassessment study                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           | Capacity In Operation                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | Capacity In Operation                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | Capacity Under Construction                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             | Capacity Under Construction                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
| Region/ State                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           | Total (MW)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              | Above 25 MW (MW)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        | (MW)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | %                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       | (MW)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | (%)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
| EASTERN                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
| Sikkim                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  | 4286                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 4248                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 2169                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 51.06                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 1133                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 26.67                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| Sub Total (Sikkim)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      | 4286                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 4248                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 2169                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 51.06                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 1133                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 26.67                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| NORTH EASTERN                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
| Meghalaya                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               | 2394                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 2298                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 322                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 14.01                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 0                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       | 0.00                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| Tripura                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 | 15                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      | 0                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       | 0                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       | 0.00                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 0                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       | 0.00                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| Manipur                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 | 1784                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 1761                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 105                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 5.96                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 0                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       | 0.00                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| Assam                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 680                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 650                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 350                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 53.85                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 0                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       | 0.00                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| Nagaland                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                | 1574                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 1452                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 75                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      | 5.17                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 0                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       | 0.00                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| Arunachal Pradesh                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       | 50328                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 50064                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 965                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 1.93                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 2150                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 4.29                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| Mizoram                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 | 2196                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 2131                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 60                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      | 2.82                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 0                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       | 0.00                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| Sub Total (NER)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         | 58971                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 58356                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 1877                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 3.22                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 2150                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 3.68                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| TOTAL (NER + SIKKIM)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 63257                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 62604                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 4046                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 6.46                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 3283                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 5.24                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| Note:- 1. Does not include pumped storage Projects 2. In some states the total of the capacity developed and balance capacity is different from the potential assessed . This is due to change in capacity of the Projects, addition/ deletion of the Projects and merger of two Projects into one etc. | Note:- 1. Does not include pumped storage Projects 2. In some states the total of the capacity developed and balance capacity is different from the potential assessed . This is due to change in capacity of the Projects, addition/ deletion of the Projects and merger of two Projects into one etc. | Note:- 1. Does not include pumped storage Projects 2. In some states the total of the capacity developed and balance capacity is different from the potential assessed . This is due to change in capacity of the Projects, addition/ deletion of the Projects and merger of two Projects into one etc. | Note:- 1. Does not include pumped storage Projects 2. In some states the total of the capacity developed and balance capacity is different from the potential assessed . This is due to change in capacity of the Projects, addition/ deletion of the Projects and merger of two Projects into one etc. | Note:- 1. Does not include pumped storage Projects 2. In some states the total of the capacity developed and balance capacity is different from the potential assessed . This is due to change in capacity of the Projects, addition/ deletion of the Projects and merger of two Projects into one etc. | Note:- 1. Does not include pumped storage Projects 2. In some states the total of the capacity developed and balance capacity is different from the potential assessed . This is due to change in capacity of the Projects, addition/ deletion of the Projects and merger of two Projects into one etc. | Note:- 1. Does not include pumped storage Projects 2. In some states the total of the capacity developed and balance capacity is different from the potential assessed . This is due to change in capacity of the Projects, addition/ deletion of the Projects and merger of two Projects into one etc. |

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Capacity

## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (d) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  1666 TO BE ANSWERED IN THE LOK SABHA ON 11.02.2021

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| List of Hydro projects (above 25 MW) under active construction (As on 31.01.2021)             | List of Hydro projects (above 25 MW) under active construction (As on 31.01.2021)             | List of Hydro projects (above 25 MW) under active construction (As on 31.01.2021)             | List of Hydro projects (above 25 MW) under active construction (As on 31.01.2021)             | List of Hydro projects (above 25 MW) under active construction (As on 31.01.2021)             | List of Hydro projects (above 25 MW) under active construction (As on 31.01.2021)             | List of Hydro projects (above 25 MW) under active construction (As on 31.01.2021)             | List of Hydro projects (above 25 MW) under active construction (As on 31.01.2021)             |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Sl. No.                                                                                       | Name of Project / Installed Capacity                                                          | Unit No.                                                                                      | State/District Implementing Agency                                                            | River/Basin                                                                                   | Capacity (MW)                                                                                 | Likely Commiss-ioning                                                                         | Likely Commiss-ioning                                                                         |
|                                                                                               | Central Sector                                                                                |                                                                                               |                                                                                               |                                                                                               |                                                                                               |                                                                                               |                                                                                               |
| 1                                                                                             | Subansiri Lower 8x250= 2000 MW                                                                | U-1 to U-8                                                                                    | Arunachal Pradesh/L. Subansiri /NHPC                                                          | Subansiri/ Brahmaputra                                                                        | 2000                                                                                          | 2023-24                                                                                       | (Aug'23)                                                                                      |
| 2                                                                                             | Teesta- VI 4x125= 500 MW                                                                      | U-1 to U-4                                                                                    | Sikkim/South Sikkim/NHPC                                                                      | Teesta/ Brahmaputra                                                                           | 500                                                                                           | 2023-24                                                                                       | (Mar'24)                                                                                      |
| 3                                                                                             | Kameng 4x150= 600 MW (3 units taken in operation)                                             | U-4                                                                                           | Arunachal Pradesh/West Kameng/NEEPCO                                                          | Bichom & Tenga/ Kameng/ Brahmaputra                                                           | 600                                                                                           |                                                                                               | 2020-21 (Mar'21)                                                                              |
|                                                                                               |                                                                                               |                                                                                               | Sub- total (Central):                                                                         |                                                                                               | 3100                                                                                          |                                                                                               |                                                                                               |
|                                                                                               | Private Sector                                                                                |                                                                                               |                                                                                               |                                                                                               |                                                                                               |                                                                                               |                                                                                               |
| 4                                                                                             | Rongnichu 2x48= 96 MW                                                                         | U-1 to U-2                                                                                    | Sikkim/East Sikkim/Madhya Bharat Power Corporation Ltd.                                       | Rongnichu/ Teesta/ Brahmaputra                                                                | 96                                                                                            |                                                                                               | 2020-21 (Mar'21)                                                                              |
|                                                                                               |                                                                                               |                                                                                               | Sub- total (Private):                                                                         |                                                                                               | 96                                                                                            |                                                                                               |                                                                                               |
|                                                                                               | Total (C.S.+ P.S.)                                                                            |                                                                                               |                                                                                               |                                                                                               | 3196                                                                                          |                                                                                               |                                                                                               |
| CIRS:-Central India River System ; EFR:-Eastern Flowing Rivers ; WFR:-Western Flowing Rivers. | CIRS:-Central India River System ; EFR:-Eastern Flowing Rivers ; WFR:-Western Flowing Rivers. | CIRS:-Central India River System ; EFR:-Eastern Flowing Rivers ; WFR:-Western Flowing Rivers. | CIRS:-Central India River System ; EFR:-Eastern Flowing Rivers ; WFR:-Western Flowing Rivers. | CIRS:-Central India River System ; EFR:-Eastern Flowing Rivers ; WFR:-Western Flowing Rivers. | CIRS:-Central India River System ; EFR:-Eastern Flowing Rivers ; WFR:-Western Flowing Rivers. | CIRS:-Central India River System ; EFR:-Eastern Flowing Rivers ; WFR:-Western Flowing Rivers. | CIRS:-Central India River System ; EFR:-Eastern Flowing Rivers ; WFR:-Western Flowing Rivers. |

developer.

| List of Hydro projects (above 25 MW) for which construction is held up   | List of Hydro projects (above 25 MW) for which construction is held up   | List of Hydro projects (above 25 MW) for which construction is held up   | List of Hydro projects (above 25 MW) for which construction is held up   | List of Hydro projects (above 25 MW) for which construction is held up   | List of Hydro projects (above 25 MW) for which construction is held up   | List of Hydro projects (above 25 MW) for which construction is held up                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Sl. No.                                                                  | Name of Project / Installed Capacity                                     | Unit No.                                                                 | State/District Implementing Agency                                       | Capacity (MW)                                                            | Likely Commiss- ioning*                                                  | Reason /Present status                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
| Central Sector                                                           | Central Sector                                                           | Central Sector                                                           | Central Sector                                                           |                                                                          |                                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
| 1                                                                        | Rangit-IV 3x40= 120 MW                                                   | U-1 to U-3                                                               | Sikkim/West Sikkim/NHPC                                                  | 120                                                                      | 2025-26                                                                  | Project is stalled since October, 2013 due to funds constraints with the developer. The project is under NCLT process since 9th April, 2019. NHPC submitted EOI on 08.07.2019 and was shortlisted under final list of Prospective Resolution Applicants on dated 23.08.2019.The Resolution Plan submitted by NHPC on 04.12.2019. The Resolution Plan Approval Application was listed for hearing on 17.02.2020 before NCLT, Hyderabad ('Tribunal'). Final hearing was held on 31.07.2020. The project has been awarded to NHPC. |
| Sub-Total(Central)                                                       | Sub-Total(Central)                                                       | Sub-Total(Central)                                                       |                                                                          | 120                                                                      |                                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
| Private Sector                                                           | Private Sector                                                           | Private Sector                                                           | Private Sector                                                           |                                                                          |                                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
| 2                                                                        | Panan 4x75= 300 MW                                                       | U-1 to U-4                                                               | Sikkim/North Sikkim/Himgiri Hydro Energy Pvt. Ltd.                       | 300                                                                      | 2025-26                                                                  | Issue of construction of bridge on Mantham Lake for accessebility of site is under discussion with the State Govt of Sikkim.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |

……….2.

| 3                              | Rangit-II 2x33= 66 MW          | U-1 to U-2                     | Sikkim/West Sikkim/Sikkim Hydro Power Ltd.   | 66                             | 2024-25                        | Works are stalled since December, 2017 due to funds constraints with developer. Project is in NCLT since 30.07.2020.   |
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|----------------------------------------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 4                              | Bhasmey 2x25.5= 51 MW          | U-1 to U-2                     | Sikkim/East Sikkim/Gati Infrastructure       | 51                             | 2024-25                        | Works are stalled since Sept., 2016 due to funds constraints with developer                                            |
|                                | Sub-Total (Private)            |                                |                                              | 417                            |                                |                                                                                                                        |
|                                | Total                          |                                |                                              | 537                            |                                |                                                                                                                        |
| * Subject to re-start of works | * Subject to re-start of works | * Subject to re-start of works | * Subject to re-start of works               | * Subject to re-start of works | * Subject to re-start of works | * Subject to re-start of works                                                                                         |

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ANNEXURE-III ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (d) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  1666 TO BE ANSWERED IN THE LOK SABHA ON 11.02.2021

## ***************

Status of ongoing/proposed Thermal Power Projects in North Eastern States

|   Sl. No. | Name of Project                                                          | Name of Organization                          | Capacity   | Status                                                                                                                      |
|-----------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|         1 | 2x800 MW Margherita Thermal Power Project, District: Tinsukia, Assam     | Assam Power Generation Corporation Limited.   | 1600 MW    | DPR is prepared and 661acr land is acquired by APGCL while 100acr is yet to be acquired. Coal linkage is yet to be granted. |
|         2 | 500 MW Garo Hills Thermal Power Project, District: Garo Hills, Meghalaya | North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Ltd. | 500 MW     | Long term coal linkage could not be established for which no headway could be made in respect of the project.               |

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