EAC clears Adani’s 1,200 MW pumped storage project in Uttar Pradesh

The Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) for River Valley and Hydroelectric Projects has recommended granting Terms of Reference (ToR) for the proposed 1,200 MW Cherue Pumped Storage Project in Sonbhadra district, Uttar Pradesh. Adani Hydro Energy Six Limited will develop the project. The recommendation was made at the committee’s 49th meeting in February 2026, allowing the project to proceed with preparing its Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Environmental Management Plan (EMP).

Estimated at Rs 5,690.85 crore, the project involves the construction of two artificial reservoirs near Cherue and Laua villages in the Robertsganj sub-division. The upper reservoir will be formed by a 41-metre-high, 1,694-metre-long geomembrane-faced rockfill dam, while the lower reservoir will be created through a 36-metre dam spanning 715 metres. The project will require about 569 hectares of land, including 438.60 hectares of forest land. The committee noted that the project proponent has not yet applied for forest clearance and directed that the Stage-I forest clearance application be submitted within six months of the ToR issuance.

The pumped storage facility will house five reversible turbine units, three of 300 MW and two of 150 MW, installed in a deep pit-type powerhouse measuring 189 metres in length, 30 metres in width and 69 metres in height. The project is designed to generate about 2,496.6 million units (MU) of electricity annually during six hours of daily turbine operation, while consuming around 3,173.6 MU during 7.4 hours of pumping. The overall cycle efficiency is estimated at approximately 78%.

During deliberations, the EAC observed that both the upper and lower reservoirs are located on non-perennial nallahs with negligible natural inflow. Based on this hydrological profile, the committee said the project should be treated as an open-loop pumped storage project rather than the closed-loop configuration proposed by the developer. It directed the proponent to prepare a detailed action plan to maintain the ecological function of the natural streams, including catchment yield assessment and measures to sustain downstream ecosystem services.

The project site lies in an environmentally sensitive region. The Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary is located about 1.41 km from the project boundary, while the Eco-Sensitive Zone boundary is around 0.57 km away. The EAC directed the project proponent to obtain certification from the Chief Wildlife Warden confirming that no project infrastructure falls within protected ecological areas or wildlife corridors within a 10 km radius.

Water required for construction activities is estimated at 900 kilolitres per day, while operational water demand is expected to be around 25 kilolitres per day. The water will be sourced from the Sone River, located approximately 7.5 km south of the project site.

The committee also highlighted the social profile of the project area. According to 2011 Census data, the affected region has a population of 94,327 across 17,263 households. Scheduled Tribes account for 34.4% of the population, while Scheduled Castes represent 18.8%. The EAC directed the preparation of a Tribal Development Plan in consultation with district authorities and the Tribal Welfare Department.

Several statutory approvals remain pending. These include power potential studies from the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), site-specific seismic design parameters from the National Committee of Seismic Design Parameters (NCSDP), a geological report from the Geological Survey of India (GSI), and Detailed Project Report approvals from the Central Water Commission (CWC) and CEA.

The committee also noted that the Memorandum of Understanding for the project was signed on July 1, 2025 between the Government of Uttar Pradesh and Adani Green Energy Limited. The developer has been directed to obtain an amended MoU reflecting the current project proponent entity, Adani Hydro Energy Six Limited.

An EAC site visit will be conducted before the project is considered for Environmental Clearance.

The featured photograph is for representation only.