The government on Thursday (2 February) said that 30 large hydro-electric power projects with installed capacity of over 11,000 megawatt (MW) are being developed in the Himalayan region.
Further, there are 87 hydroelectric power projects, with installed capacity of nearly 23,000 MW, that are currently operational in the Himalayan belt across different states in the country.
“At present, there are 30 numbers of large Hydro Electric Projects (HEPs) (above 25 MW Installed Capacity) with aggregate Installed Capacity of 11137.50 MW which are being developed in the Himalayan belt across different States in the country,” Union Power Minister R K Singh said in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha on Thursday.
Out of these projects, 23 Hydro Electric projects totaling to 10381.5 MW, are under active construction and 7 hydro electric projects totaling to 756 MW, are held up, the minister said.
“Besides, there are 87 numbers of HEPs with an aggregate Installed capacity of 22982 MW in Himalayan belt across different states in the country which are operational,” he said.
The minister further said that no hydro project above 25 MW is taken up before getting environmental clearance, which is given by Ministry of Environment only after a comprehensive assessment by an Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC).