The Orissa Hydro Power Corporation and the National Hydel Power Corporation NHPC which had forged a joint venture for taking up 12 hydel power projects in the state will undertake three hydel projects with a cumulative capacity of 300 MW in the first phase.

Reports added that all the three hydel power projects will come up on Mahanadi river and they included Sindol I with a capacity of 90 MW at Deogaon, 90 MW Sindol II at Kapasira in Sonepur district and the 120 MW Sindol III at Godhaneswar aslo in Sonepur district.

Mr Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak state energy minister said that the sites for the hydel projects have been identified by an inter departmental technical coordination committee consisting of the members of energy and water resources department.

Sources added that the draft joint venture proposal sent by NHPC to the Orissa government has been approved and the power company is set to sign the Memorandum of Understanding with the state government soon.

Reports added that initially 12 hydel projects were identified for development on the joint venture mode. However the number can increase or decrease after close examination during the preparation of the Detailed Project Report.

The identified locations are middle Kolab, Tel integrated project, lower Bansadhara, Balijori Hydel Project, Salki Hydel Project, Khadago Dam Project, Uttei Roul Integrated Project, Mahanadi-Brahmani River Link, Baramul Hydel Project, Sindol-I, Sindol-II and Sindol-III projects

(Sourced from BS)