Bhubaneswar: Odisha government has identified 185 sites for setting up small hydro power projects, Additional Chief Secretary (Energy) Vishal Kumar Dev said Friday.
Speaking on the sidelines of a stakeholder dialogue on small hydro power development in Bhubaneswar, Dev said Odisha, which accounts for nearly 11 per cent of India’s surface water resources, has significant potential for small hydro power generation.
“Initially, we have identified 185 sites having a total small hydro power potential of 260 MW, which will definitely go beyond in the coming days,” he said.
While several measures have been taken for developing large hydro projects in the state, greater attention is now needed to harness small hydro potential, he added.
The stakeholder dialogue brought together policymakers, project developers, financiers and sector experts to discuss ways to accelerate implementation of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy’s (MNRE) Small Hydro Power Development Scheme for 2026-27 to 2030-31.
Inaugurating the session, Deputy Chief Minister KV Singh Deo said small hydro projects offer significant environmental and developmental benefits as they can utilise existing irrigation canals and water flows without requiring extensive land acquisition.
India has so far harnessed 5,171 MW of its estimated 21,133 MW small hydro potential, officials said.
The recently launched Rs 2,584.60-crore national scheme targets creation of 1,500 MW of new small hydro capacity through around 200 projects. It also provides Rs 30 crore for preparation of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs).
Odisha plans to use the central support to diversify its largely thermal-based power generation portfolio, officials said.
To facilitate smooth integration of additional power into the grid, the state government has also planned an investment of around Rs 16,000 crore to expand its transmission infrastructure, they said.
The state cabinet has recently approved the plan, which includes development of three new 765-kV transmission networks, they added.
