en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) released the Small Hydro Development Plan Guidelines (FY 2026-27 to FY 2030-31) in New Delhi, focusing on supporting the addition of approximately 1,500 MW of small hydropower capacity. MNRE Secretary Santosh Kumar Sarangi presided over the guideline release ceremony in New Delhi, marking a significant milestone for the revival and expansion of India's small hydropower sector.
The guidelines were unveiled at a workshop on the Small Hydro Development Plan organized by MNRE. The workshop brought together representatives from state governments, state-level nodal agencies, public sector undertakings, developers, technical institutions, industry associations, and other relevant stakeholders. The newly launched plan has a total financial outlay of INR 258.46 billion, supporting small hydropower projects through Central Financial Assistance (CFA), covering activities such as Detailed Project Report (DPR) preparation, assistance to technical institutions, capacity building, awareness raising, international cooperation, and project monitoring.
In his keynote address, Santosh Kumar Sarangi noted that India's clean energy transition requires diversification of renewable energy sources and greater focus on region-specific solutions. He emphasized that small hydropower is a mature, reliable, and environmentally sustainable renewable energy technology, playing a crucial role in enhancing energy security, supporting rural development, and promoting balanced regional growth. He mentioned that while India's small hydropower potential is estimated at approximately 21 GW, only a fraction has been developed so far, presenting significant opportunities for future growth.
Joint Secretary Rajesh Kulhari, in his welcome address, highlighted the importance of the newly approved plan in unlocking India's untapped hydropower potential. He stated that small hydropower is a vital component of India's renewable energy portfolio, capable of making substantial contributions to energy access, local economic development, grid stability, and sustainable growth, particularly in mountainous, remote, and border regions. He called upon states and stakeholders to actively ensure timely project implementation.
Akash Tripathi, Managing Director of the Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI), emphasized in his remarks the role of small hydropower in supporting the clean energy transition and renewable energy diversification. He stressed the importance of effective coordination among implementing agencies, developers, and state governments, and assured that SECI, as the National Project Implementing Agency (NPIA), is committed to the efficient implementation and promotion of eligible projects.
During the technical session, SECI officials presented the key features of the Small Hydro Development Plan Guidelines, covering eligibility criteria, Central Financial Assistance structure, project timelines, implementation mechanisms, and institutional arrangements. Participants learned about provisions aimed at facilitating project development, reducing electricity tariffs, and improving project viability, especially for mountainous and northeastern regions.
Officials from the National Informatics Centre (NIC) and MNRE demonstrated the online Small Hydro Portal, which will serve as the digital system for plan implementation. The demonstration covered the portal architecture, registration process, application workflow, document submission procedures, project monitoring mechanisms, fund disbursement modules, and grievance redressal functions. Stakeholders were informed that all activities under the plan will be conducted through the online portal to ensure transparency, efficiency, and real-time monitoring.
The workshop also featured an extensive interactive session where representatives from states, developers, industry associations, and other parties raised questions and provided suggestions on project allocation, approvals, DPR preparation, financial assistance, implementation timelines, and portal functionalities, offering feedback for the effective implementation of the plan.
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