Uttarakhand New Hydel Power Projects

• 16 Jul 2024

Why in News?

Recently, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami sought the clearance of 21 new hydel power projects with a capacity of 2123 MW for the state from the Centre.

Key Points

• The Union Minister of Power Manohar Lal Khattar is on a visit to the state to review the progress of Tehri Hydro Power Complex and various urban development projects in the state.
• According to the CM, only 40% of Uttarakhand's total capacity for hydro electricity generation is being utilised at present.
  • Expert committees have recommended the implementation projects on the Alaknanda and Bhagirathi rivers and their tributaries.

Alaknanda River

• It is one of the headstreams of the Ganga.
• It rises at the confluence and feet of the Satopanth and Bhagirath glaciers in Uttarakhand.
• It meets the Bhagirathi River at Devprayag after which it is called the Ganga.
• Its main tributaries are the Mandakini, Nandakini, and Pindar rivers.
• The Alaknanda system drains parts of Chamoli, Tehri, and Pauri districts
• The Hindu pilgrimage center of Badrinath and the natural spring Tapt Kund lie along the banks of the Alaknanda River.

Bhagirathi River

• It is a turbulent Himalayan river of Uttarakhand, and one of the two headstreams of the Ganges.
• The Bhagirathi rises at the foot of Gangotri Glacier, at Gaumukh, at an elevation of 3892m and fanning out into the 350 km wide Ganga delta, it finally empties into the Bay of Bengal.
• The Bhagirathi and Alaknanda join at Devprayag in Garhwal andare thereafter known as the Ganges.