November 09, 2001

'28'

BRAHMAPUTRA RIVER SYSTEM COMES OUT WITH BEST POTENTIAL FOR HYDRO ELECTRIC POWER PROJECTS

The Brahmaputra River System has received the highest marks in the Preliminary Ranking Study of the potential of hydro sites for all river basins in the country. This Study has been conducted by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) on the directions of the Ministry of Power.

    India has a potential of 1,50,000 MW of hydro electric power and only 24.6 percent of this potential has been exploited so far. In its Preliminary Ranking Study, the CEA has taken 10 major aspects into account while giving marks. These are Reform & Restructuring aspects, International aspects, Inter-state aspects, Potential of the scheme, Type of scheme, Height of dam, Length of tunnel/channel, Accessibility to site, Status of the Project and Status of upstream or downstream hydro development. The study gives weightage ranging from a minimum of 6 marks to a maximum of 15 marks based on the applicability of these aspects to each individual project. Depending on the marks allotted, the schemes have been categorized into Grade A (80 marks and above), Grade B (60 to 79 marks), Grade C (40-59 marks), Grade D (20-39 marks) and Grade E (upto 19 marks).

    Based on this criteria, the rankings of various hydro schemes which were identified but are yet to be developed are given below:
River System Total Marks
Brahmaputra 168
Indus 79
Ganga 75
East Flowing Rivers 39
West Flowing Rivers 25
Central Indian Rivers 13

     The schemes ranked under Grade A are considered to be attractive and viable and could be considered for further development according to the Preliminary Ranking Study. This report will help hydro developers take up implementation of potential sites in a phased manner in order of their ranking. Based on this preliminary study, further studies would be carried out for schemes considering such aspects as land use, geology , power evacuation , cost estimates and tentative tariff. This will help in the detailed final ranking of the schemes for all basins. Completion of the detailed ranking studies for selected projects mostly in Grade A and B is likely to take about a year.