December 05, 2001

RAJYA SABHA

'28'

RANKING STUDY REPORT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF HYDRO-ELECTRIC POTENTIAL

The Government of India is according high priority to exploit the untapped hydro-electric potential in the country. In order to accelerate the process of survey and investigation of the new hydro-electric sites and to create a shelf of feasible projects which could be taken up for execution, the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) was asked to carry out a ranking study of the balance hydro sites for all the six classified river basins in the country. This information was given by the Minister of State for Power Smt.Jayawanti Mehta in the Rajya Sabha here today in reply to a written question.

CEA has since brought out a Report on Preliminary Ranking Study of about 400 hydro schemes with an aggregate installed capacity of about 1,07,000 MW which are yet to be developed. The inter-se prioritization of hydro sites within the basins has been carried out on consideration of various aspects involved in the development of hydro schemes. On the basis of this evaluation the schemes have been graded in A, B and C categories in order of their priority for development for each basin. The basin-wise details of ranking are as under:-

No.of Schemes : Basin and Category-wise

River Basin	A	B	C	Total
Indus	11	51	17	79
Ganga	20	54	1	75
Central Indian Rivers	3	9	1	13
East Flowing Rivers	11	26	2	39
West Flowing Rivers	1	10	14	25
Brahmaputra	52	97	19	168
Grand Total	98	247	54	399
INSTALLED CAPACITY MW	15650 MW	69830 MW	21420 MW	106,900 MW

This study would enable potential hydro developers to take up detailed survey and investigation, cost estimates and tentative tariff for the most attractive and viable schemes in each basin in a phased manner.

Hydro electric projects of 16,291 MW and 22,364 MW have already been identified tentatively for benefits in the Xth and XIth Plan respectively. Their execution would, however, depend on obtaining the statutory clearances and tying up of necessary funds.