Status of Hydro Electric Projects (above 25 MW) -under implementation and stalled

India has 26 hydroelectric projects (HEPs) with a total capacity of 13,238 MW that are under construction. Currently, there are 209 operational HEPs with a combined installed capacity of 42,983 MW.

Some projects like Teesta-III, Teesta-V, Khandong, and Malana-II are generating less or no power due to flash floods and cloudbursts, causing outages. Developers are working on improving plant efficiency through routine maintenance, modernization, and by adopting digital solutions like SCADA, digital excitation system, digital governor system and real-time monitoring systems.

Additionally, 8 hydro projects are stalled, while several earlier-stalled projects, including Subansiri Lower, Teesta VI, Rangit IV, and Ratle HEP, have been revived through government and NHPC’s interventions.

To avoid future delays, the Ministry of Power (MoP) has issued several guidelines since 2019 to reduce time and cost overruns, prevent disputes, and improve project monitoring through IT-based systems.

The 8 hydroelectric projects (above 25 MW capacity) across India currently stalled, amount to 1,156 MW in combined capacity. The key reasons for these delays fall into four categories:

1. Sub-judice matters:
   Three projects — Lata Tapovan (171 MW, Uttarakhand), Maheshwar (400 MW, Madhya Pradesh), and Bhasmey (51 MW, Sikkim) — are stuck due to ongoing court cases and legal disputes, with work suspended for years.
2. Funding constraints:
   Two projects — Tangnu Romai (44 MW, Himachal Pradesh) and Rangit-II (66 MW, Sikkim) — are stalled because of developer financial issues, bankruptcy proceedings, and delays in land and environmental clearances.
3. Accessibility issues:
   The Panan project (300 MW, Sikkim) has faced severe setbacks due to natural disasters including earthquakes, floods, landslides, and the collapse of the Teesta bridge, which has halted progress entirely.
4. Other issues:
   Lower Kalnai (48 MW, Jammu & Kashmir) and Phata Byung (76 MW, Uttarakhand) have faced delays due to contractor insolvency and financial crunches. Lower Kalnai awaits resolution of viability concerns, while Phata Byung has been reassigned through NCLT to a new developer.