New Delhi: The Exploitable Conventional Hydro Potential in Jammu and Kashmir is 12264 Mega Watts, Parliament was informed on Monday.
“As per the study carried out by CEA during the period 2017-2023, the exploitable large hydro potential in the country is about 133.4 Giga Watt (GW,” Minister of State in the Ministry of Power, Shripad Naik said in a written reply to Rajya Sabha. J&K, he said, has 12264 MW Exploitable Conventional Hydro Potential.
He said that 13,997.5 MW of hydro electric projects and 6,050 MW pumped storage projects (PSPs) are under construction, while 24,225.5 MW of hydro electric projects and 50,760 MW of PSP are under various stages of planning and are targeted to be completed by 2031-32 in the country.
He also informed that 260-MW Dulhasti Stage-II in Jammu and Kashmir was among Hydro Electric Schemes for which Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) are under preparation.
In addition, he said, as much as 29,200 MW thermal capacity is being installed in the country, while 51,520 MW capacity is under various stages of planning and development.
He said that the government’s aim is to have an installed power generation capacity of around 777.14 GW by 2029-30. India’s overall power generation capacity was at 454.452 GW as of October 2024. The Ministry of Power, in consultation with states, has envisaged a plan to add thermal capacity of a minimum 80,000 MW by 2031-32, the Union Minister said.
“Against this target, 29,200 MW thermal capacity is already under construction, while 51,520 MW is at various stages of planning & development,” he said.
The minister further said there are also 7,300 MW of nuclear capacity under construction and 7,000 MW is under various stages of planning and approval In view of increasing power generation capacity, Naik said about 1,91,474 circuit kilometer (ckm) of transmission lines and 1,274 GVA of transformation capacity is planned to be added (at 220 kV and above voltage level) during the ten year period from 2022-23 to 2031-32. The country’s peak demand met figures were at 219.222 GW up October 2024
He said that the Government of India has taken various initiatives to harness the hydro-power potential including the hydro pumped storage potential. Among others he said it includes declaring large hydropower projects (capacity above 25 MW) as renewable energy source; Hydro Renewable Energy Consumption Obligation by Designated Consumers; Tariff rationalization measures for bringing down hydropower tariff; Budgetary support for Flood Moderation/Storage hydroelectric projects; Budgetary support towards cost of enabling infrastructure, i.e. roads, bridges, ropeways, railway siding, communication infrastructure and Transmission Line from power house to the nearest pooling point, including upgradation of polling substations of State or Central Transmission Utility; Guidelines to promote development of Pumped Storage Projects (PSPs) in the country was issued on 10th April, 2023 and that Waiver of Inter State Transmission System (ISTS) charges for hydroelectric projects and PSPs.
J&K Has 12264 MW Exploitable Conventional Hydro Potential: Centre
