Maharashtra signs agreements for hydro power projects worth ₹24,631 crore

The water resources department of the Maharashtra government signed three memoranda of understanding on Monday to generate pump storage hydro power projects

Mumbai: The water resources department of the Maharashtra government signed three memoranda of understanding (MOUs) on Monday to generate pump storage hydro power projects with a combined capacity of 5,630 megawatts (MW). The estimated investment for these projects is ₹24,631 crore, with the state government projecting the creation of 10,300 jobs.

The initiative aligns with the state government's decision to increase hydro power generation capacity using a pump storage system. This innovative approach involves generating hydro power from an upper reservoir, storing the water in a lower reservoir, and then pumping it back to the upper reservoir at night to generate more power during peak daytime demand

The water resources department, acting as the nodal agency, signed MOUs with state-owned Mahagenco, Tata Power, and Avaada Group to develop the hydro power projects.

Devendra Fadnavis, deputy chief minister of Maharashtra, stated that these MOUs would contribute to achieving the target of generating 50% of total power through renewable sources by 2030.

Mahagenco plans to develop an 80 MW pump storage project at the Koyna left bank dam foot power house. The company already operates the Koyna foot storage hydro power project, and this new pump storage facility will enhance its power generation capacity.